TigerlilyBramble_of_WillowBottom Reviews

The Omen (1976)

Some bits are silly, some good, and some downright brilliant.

[20 June 2003]

I decided to rent this after the (sob) death of Gregory Peck. First, I viewed the trailer on the DVD and even that was kind of funny. Direct quote: "American Ambassador Robert Thorn and his wife Katharine are very happy about the birth of their son, Damien." My brother and I cracked up at that. Amazing, how much a few movies can affect people's association with Satan. Okay, that aside, here's the gist:

Robert Thorn (the amazingly talented and handsome Gregory Peck) is an American ambassador who lives in Rome with his wife Kathy (the amazingly talented and beautiful Lee Remick). He learns, before she, that their new and first child is stillborn. Robert goes to a church where some nuns show him a live baby that was also born at that time (June 6th at 6 AM, by the way), and offers him to Robert, as he could pass as their son. This puts Robert in the lose-lose situation of either telling Kathy the baby she had is dead or lying to her and saying that this baby is theirs. You can probably guess which one he chooses, since it's a matter of whether or not this movie would have been made. Anyway, they take home the cute little devil named Damien, and soon they have to move to London. Now, before I describe the first silly (supposed to be creepy) part, I'll explain that I understand Kathy and Robert are very much in love. I mean, she's absolutely gorgeous, and he's Gregory Peck, for crying out loud, but that's no excuse to be so fascinated with each other as they go for a walk that they briefly lose sight of Damien, now a toddler. And then after that there's a hanging scene (not gory, just kind of spooky), a scene where a spear stabs through an important someone (not gory or spooky; you can see it coming a mile away), two scenes where the same person falls from a high point (painful to watch, but that's good), an attack in a graveyard by about ten rottweilers (pretty bloody and subsequently followed by a sharp peak on a fence stabbing through someone's arm), and a REALLY AWESOME decapitation scene (a little blood). I normally hate gore, but c'mon, you have to praise the sfx people of 1976 to do that scene so well. Basically, Robert learns that Damien is the son of Satan.

Now, although the first third of the film is unintentionally silly and sometimes over-acted, the rest is quite good, with some bits shot quite brilliantly. For instance, anyone who's seen a single Peck film has to know that he can save a movie most of the time. Anyway, Peck is brilliant as usual, as is Remick. The kid was SOOOO adorable, but did have a little devilishness about him. Billie Whitelaw (the creepy nanny) had me hating her from the second she walked into their house, especially after what she does later on (more about that later). And the score scared the hell out of me (no pun intended). When Peck walks into his house for the last time and we hear a mixture of the dog panting and a choir whispering and chanting "Ave Satani," I had goosebumps. Some of the little bits I loved and/or that scared me (some spoilers): Robert's frustration that he has to stab Damien, when he and the photographer unearth the skeletons of both Damien's mother and Robert's real son with a hole in its skull, and Kathy's blue eyes widening under that veil-like cover-up as she sees the creepy nanny approaching with that sick smile (even though it was an awful part, I have to say that was when Remick looked the most beautiful, almost like an angel, therefore the nanny had to kill her). Also (BIG SPOILER), I felt Robert's pain when he was about to stab Damien as he said, "No, Daddy, no." And you have to love Damien's smile at the end....

Blue Crush (2002)

AWFUL!!!!!!! Where are the Razzie People when you need them?

[3/10 · 11 April 2003]

Let me just say I pity anyone who had to pay to see this. I saw it at a friend's party, and I feel robbed of time. The film is SUCH a mess. Where do I begin?

Okay, the editing is done appallingly. I barely even know what film editing is, and I can tell it's terrible. And then there's the script, or lack thereof. This is an actual excerpt of dialogue: Talking about their teacher: "I bet you thought he was hot." "Shut up, Lena!" Okay, I say more original things than that in real life. And there's actually a scene where the spoiled blonde bitch overhears people talking about her in the bathroom. Oh, my God, I've never seen a scene like that before! Note my use of sarcasm. And the plot...what plot? It's as if they just grabbed a bunch of drama camp students off the street, put bikinis on them, and just randomly started filming. Okay, I can understand that the whole point was to have a bunch of girls in bikinis, but if you're gonna do that, at least get girls that fill out their bikinis nicely, not that I'd know or anything. And I can also understand meeting a guy and having a fling with him, but sleeping with him? Not slapping the skittles out of him when he UNTIES YOUR DAMN BIKINI strap like the day after you met him? Realizing it's true love at the end? Puh-lease.

Why, do you ask, am I giving it a 3/10 instead of a zero? Well, the fat guy was pretty funny, the scenery wasn't bad, and they tried. But really, save yourself the nausea and avoid this "film" like a shallow pit of hungry alligators.

Miracle on 34th Street (1994)

If you don't like this movie, I can think of one solution: YOU'RE A GRINCH!

[8 December 2002]

How can you not feel warm inside after watching this? Sure, Elizabeth Perkins was a little too subdued for her role, but Richard Attenborough and Mara Wilson make it worthwhile.

Attenborough was perfect for Kris Kringle. Even though I know the "secret" of Santa Claus, he made me believe in him for the 114 minutes the film lasted. The part with the deaf girl is really sweet, and you can't help but feel devastatingly sorry for Kris when those slimeballs at Shoppers Express set him up. It's a real shame Attenborough is threatening to never act again if he doesn't get to be Albus Dumbledore. He's a great actor, but not what I had in mind for Dumbledore.

Mara Wilson is also adorable and convincing, and, just as Brian says, talks like she's 64. *SPOILER* And the speech she gives about it being highly unlikely she'll get arrested as she gives the judge the card that determines the verdict of Kris's case is priceless!*SPOILER'S OVER.

All in all, your heart has to be two sizes too small to not like this.

The Ring (2002)

I don't get it

[3/10 · 10 November 2002]

This is easily the most over-hyped piece of cinema I have ever seen. I went in expecting to have the holy popcorn scared out of me, like a reviewer said. Did I? Nope. Yes, the tape was kind of creepy, and the noise that played during the tape, but pretty much everything else about it sucked. The acting was good, though, and so was the plot. However, they don't explain a damn thing. For instance: Who made the tape? Who calls you when you watch the tape? Why hasn't anyone in the movie ever heard of star-six-nine? *SPOLIER, I SUPPOSE* And when Rachel says, "What did I do that he didn't?", she comes to the conclusion that she made a copy. Well, yeah, AND you went down in the well and held the girl's corpse. And anyway, it's impossible to see a ring of light when you push a lid onto a well AFTER you see the half-moon shape. I'm warning you, don't waste your time. 4/10, and I'm feeling generous.

Sweet Home Alabama (2002)

My kind of movie.

[7/10 · 8 November 2002]

Sweet, funny, romantic, pokes fun at north and south, Democrats and Republicans...what more could you want? I don't live in Alabama, but I've driven through several times to get to Mississippi from my home state, Georgia (where it was shot!), and it isn't that incorrect. My mom says my grandfather would have been exactly like Melanie's dad with the chair, and the joke about marrying your cousin only popped up once. It was tame compared to what I expected. Also, ignore everyone who says Reese Witherspoon and Josh Lucas had no chemistry. They did too! When they're in the dog cemetery, I could feel it. My only complaints are: We never hear Lynyrd Skynyrd's (BADLY misspelled) version of the song, and Reese Witherspoon had no chemistry with Patrick Dempsey. I know there isn't supposed to be a lot of romance between them, but I wasn't buying it at all and had no idea why they were engaged. Other than that, cute movie! 7/10

Carrie (2002 TV Movie)

Worth checking out

[7/10 · 4 November 2002]

I literally just finished watching this remake of the 1976 classic (well, I think it's a classic) about ten minutes ago. We all basically know the plot and what happens at the end, so I'll skip straight to my take. I'll warn you, mostly I'm going to compare it to the old movie. Just to be on the safe side, I'll also warn you of a few potential spoilers.

Angela Bettis and Sissy Spacek are very different, but both portrayed Carrie brilliantly in different ways. Spacek looked more mousy and innocent, while Bettis looked angry and disturbed. But all of these things were part of the actual character Carrie; they just don't surface at the same time.

Most will say Piper Laurie was scarier than Patricia Clarkson as Margaret White, but I disagree. Yes, Laurie was meaner at first glance and didn't seem to care about her daughter at all, and Clarkson looked nice and only did a few mean things to her daughter. But think about it: Every single time Clarkson lashed out at Carrie--when she smacked her, poured tea on her, dragged her off to the closet, and pushed her underwater--it was sudden and made you jump. She was unpredictable. In my opinion, this is what makes her scary.

The gym teacher in the original version was definitely friendlier, while the one here was a little bit of a psycho bitch. Also, Sue was sassier to the police in this one than the squeaky-clean Sue in the original. However, one thing that separates this from the original is Billy. The Billy in the remake will give me nightmares. The way he killed that pig, and threatened Chris--aah! And John Travolta's character in the last one was just a smartass. But other than this, and the considerably changed ending that I won't give away, the remake isn't much different than the original. This made-for-TV movie is definitely worth checking out, and so is the original with Sissy Spacek and Piper Laurie.

Thir13en Ghosts (2001)

HORRIBLE!!!!!

[1/10 · 1 November 2002]

Some obvious signs that a horror movie sucks: 1) They play stupid rap music during the credits. 2) They cast awful actors. 3) It has the worst script since "Summer Catch". 4) You find yourself scared at parts when these awful actors say those sucky lines because you think, "They can actually make a monumental pile of crap like this and call it a MOVIE???"

Sorry, Thir13en Ghosts, you inhabit all of these signs. And to all of those people who said that this "film" was physically painful to sit through because of the special effects...you're WRONG! It's painful because of BAD writing, BAD acting, and the WORST plot ever!!!! I can say this...and I didn't even sit through the whole thing because it was that bad. Avoid at all costs; go watch grass grow instead. Zero stars out of 10 and grade: F-

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

THE best fantasy film of the new millenium

[10/10 · 19 October 2002]

The Academy ought to be ashamed of themselves. Only four Oscars? This film deserved almost every one of the thirteen it was nominated for! Let's go through that list, first the winners: Makeup-Spectacular! The hobbits, elves, dwarves, wizards--every character was perfectly made up, especially the hobbit feet. Musical Score-Awesome! I agree with every single person who believes that it had the best score ever. Cinematography-Brilliant! I've never seen such great camera work in any film. Visual Effects-Breathtaking...need I say more?

Now for what it should have won: Song-I'm listening to the Enya song right now as I write this. "May It Be" is a wonderful song. It also should have won adapted screenplay, art direction (I haven't read the Lord of the Rings Trilogy, but I did read "The Hobbit", and Bag End is exactly as I imagined it), sound, I can't decide if Jim Broadbent or Ian McKellen deserved the supporting actor award, and frankly, best picture. This is a great film.

Now, keep in mind that I'm a teenage girl. I might be a bit biased because, well, Elijah Wood is hot. But, unlike other big budget films like "Pearl Harbor" and "Titanic," they've cast a hot guy who can actually act! Come to think of it, the entire film was beautifully casted, from Elijah, Ian McKellen, Ian Holm, and Viggo Morenstein (if that's how you spell it) to Liv Tyler and Cate Blanchett. Also, Sam, Pippin, and whatever the other hobbit that went with them and Frodo was named were great. I can't wait for the sequel. The Fellowship of the Ring gets a 10!

Bridget Jones's Diary (2001)

Come the f**k on, Bridget!

[10/10 · 13 October 2002]

Colin Firth or Hugh Grant (one of them) said that everyone sort of raised an eyebrow when they announced that Renee Zellweger was going to play the part of Bridget Jones, but that she blew everyone away. Well, that was exactly how I reacted. She was perfect for the part, in my opinion. As for the film, it was sweet, romantic, and DAMN FUNNY! I always laugh when I watch it, and I've seen it about 10 times. Hugh Grant is a good snake, and Colin Firth is very charming, even though he's pretty stiff in this. The end--or maybe what happens in the credits--makes it impossible for you to leave the movie not smiling. The end also makes me happy. There are two awards it was nominated for that it should have won: Best Kiss in the MTV movie awards, and the Oscar for Zellweger. She was hilarious! I'm looking forward to the sequel, but it won't be very good if she doesn't end up with the guy she did from this movie.-------9/10

My Best Friend's Wedding (1997)

Death by minibar!

[7/10 · 17 September 2002]

Romantic comedy: Jules Potter (Julia Roberts) hasn't seen her best friend Michael (Dermont Mulroney)in months, but remembers that she made a blood promise with him that they'd marry by the time they were twenty-eight if they weren't already. Three weeks before her twenty-eighth birthday, she gets a mysterious message from him sounding desperate. So she calls him, expecting a proposal. Instead, he announces that he's met a beautiful girl, Kimmy Wallace (Cameron Diaz), and that they're getting married in five days. Jules wants to be happy...but realizes she may love him herself, and with the help of her other best friend, gay editor George Downes (Rupert Everett), sets off to break up the wedding!

MY TAKE: 8.5 out of 10 This is a cute and very charming movie. It's different--with the main character being the "bad guy" and (spoiler) her not getting the guy--but refreshing. The casting is world-class, and the acting is wonderful. Cameron Diaz is at her best as the beautiful and hyper Kimmy, Julia Roberts is dark but great as the main character/villain, and Rupert Everett is FANTASTIC and charming as George. But my one complaint is that they made George more desirable than Michael! Throughout the movie I had no idea why Jules was crazy for this seemingly wonderful guy when the only nearly romantic part between them is when he gets the wedding ring off of her finger with saliva. But after only five minutes of watching, you'll fall in love with Rupert Everett and be sorry he's gay. I like the ending, even though it's sort of sad, and even though Mulroney's character is boring and less than cute, this is still a great rental.

The Tell-Tale Heart (1958)

great adaptation

[9/10 · 6 September 2002]

If this is the correct version, my eighth grade language arts teacher assigned us to read the story and then we saw the short movie. It manages to keep the gore low (we only see the madman pour a bowl of blood into the sink--the blood is probably chocolate) and the story realistic. The purposeful poor quality of the film and sound along with the music box-like score, ticking clock and old man's heartbeat are wonderfully haunting and keep you watching. The part that remains stuck in my head is when you see the silhouette of the madman about to come in and murder the old man. The old man's hand is reaching for the bell, ready to grab it when...you'll have to watch and see.

All in all, great adaptation. 9.5/10

Psycho (1960)

Wonderful! Brilliant! Genius! Fantastic! PERFECT!

[10/10 · 25 August 2002]

I just finished watching "Psycho" on TV about an hour ago, and I am still in awe. This is easily Hitch's best film ever...maybe THE best film ever. I can say this, and A) I am under 17, and B) I didn't see the whole thing. I started watching it when Janet Leigh was getting ready to leave about fifteen minutes in.

Terrific, flawless acting and directing jobs are done here. WHY DIDN'T IT WIN ANY OSCARS? I have repeatedly been asking myself this question. The adapted screenplay was awesome as well, and the ending was ABSOLUTE GENIUS (but I'm not gonna tell you what it is). My ten-year-old brother had to leave in the middle of the movie, so we taped about the last half hour (yea, I get to watch it again!), and he liked what he's seen. Now I just have to not tell him the ending...

One minor note, though: Viewers everywhere think it's a mistake that there was blood all over the wall after the shower scene, and when Norman Bates comes in there isn't. Hello, wasn't the shower still on? It could have washed off the blood.

Overall, brilliant, and yes, perfect. I have to write a novelette for literature class, and I will no doubt use "Psycho" as a guide to write a murder mystery. *************and more out of 10

Drowning Mona (2000)

Highly underrated

[10/10 · 10 August 2002]

My brother rented this on DVD and insisted I watch it. Not expecting anything brilliant, I sat down...and had a great laugh. I was also pleasantly surprised at the writing. Some of the lines were hilarious, especially the line that comes after the line I mentioned above. Not only this, but what starts out as stupid, mindless fun proves itself to be a smart, quirky little movie. Just because you don't have to think to enjoy it doesn't mean a lot of thinking wasn't involved to write "Mona". I personally think it's one of the better black comedies, and have no idea why it got such mixed reviews. Ignore everyone with something negative to say about "Drowning Mona" and go see it for yourself!

Not Another Teen Movie (2001)

I need some t-to-the-fourth-power y!

[19 July 2002]

Those of you who panned this movie, calling it immature, stupid, and unfunny, what did you expect? No one said this would win any awards. You were warned that it wasn't the most serious movie in the world. So lower your standards and watch it again. After all, I normally hate dumb movies, and I grew quite fond of NATM. I liked the John Hughes nod, the musical number (that it wouldn't have been complete without, if you ask me), the horny virgins, the token black guy, the nasty cheerleader, the "Rudy" spoof, the "Pretty in Pink" spoof (does anyone else think Jake said the line better than Andrew McCarthy did in 1986?), and just about everything. They only went over the top a few times, like with Areola the foreign exchange student and the scene where the toilet spills on a teacher, but most of the time it wasn't that stupid. See some of the movies it spoofs, and then you might laugh. Most of them deserved to be spoofed, anyway. And if you still aren't satisfied by then, rent the DVD and watch the deleted scenes. They're hilarious, and the menus resemble covers of other teen movies (a hand holding a rose on top of a hairy belly, a la "American Beauty), plus there's a "Test Your Teen Movie IQ" quiz. By the way, I did pretty well on it, and according to the scale, that means I need to get a life. Oh, well. Anyway, after that, if you don't laugh at least once, then I give up!!!

Traffic (2000)

Now get out of the car and shoot him in the head!

[8/10 · 16 July 2002]

I didn't completely understand "Traffic" when I rented it, so I'd have to watch it again. I do know, however, that it deserved all four of its Oscars.

The dialogue was brilliant, especially Robert Wakefield's, Caroline's, and Javier Rodriguez's. The writer picked realistic but intelligent-sounding lines that make it worth watching even if you don't understand the story. Sodenberg deserves the Oscar and lots of praise for a directing job well done.

Benicio Del Toro, the only Oscar-winner for this film not named Stephen or Steven, was awesome. I believed his every word and action, especially when he speaks English because it really sounds like he doesn't know it fluently. He is the only reason this film didn't seem too fast, because Javier Rodriguez was really the only character that had the slightest hint of uneasiness. You can also feel the cop's tension when he has sort of a breakdown trying to get out of the SUV. I definitely want to see more of Benicio's movies, even if that means I have to sit through an action flick, my least favorite genre besides war.

But Erika Christiansen, Jacob Vargas, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Michael Douglas, and Topher Grace (is that his name?) were also great. Kudos to Erika, who pulled off many convincing scenes where she was high, specifically after freebasing for the first time. I also loved the end under the circumstances, the way the colors looked different wherever the characters were, the lack of a musical score so it sounded like real life...there really wasn't a lot I didn't like. ****/*****

I Am Sam (2001)

HI, THIS IS SAM!!!!!

[8/10 · 1 July 2002]

The movie starts the day Sam Dawson (Sean Penn)'s daughter is born. He is fascinated by her and names her Lucy Diamond after the Beatles song. He loves Lucy, and raises her to be seven. But unfortunately, Sam's mental capacity is near that of a seven-year-old, so that becomes a problem--whether or not he can raise his daughter. So eventually, a lawyer named Rita Harrison (Michelle Pfieffer) takes his case.

I was told Sean Penn used to beat up photographers, but I'm not hesitant to say he did a good job in "I Am Sam." Maybe it's because this is the first movie starring him that I've seen, but I believed he was the mentally retarded but lovable Sam. And Michelle Pfieffer did a great job. Her character, Rita, is basically heartless. But Sam changes her and gets her to spend more time with her family.

But the real standout performance was Dakota Fanning, who played Lucy. She was excellent for a child actor, and same here, I believed her.

Like others say, this WAS filmed at weird camera angles, but I think it fits the theme. It's in the eyes of Sam, who sees everything in a different way. How something is filmed shouldn't affect whether or not you want to see it (except maybe "The Blair Witch Project"), because then you would miss a really great movie, because that's what "I Am Sam" is.---------9/10

A Beautiful Mind (2001)

Proves that something extraordinary is possible.

[7/10 · 1 July 2002]

Okay, okay, I admit it. When I first saw the trailer for this film, I rolled my eyes, not hearing the part about it being a true story or that Ron Howard, one of the best directors of this or any generation, had directed and produced it. It was especially the title that made me think it wouldn't be very successful. I mean, "A Beautiful Mind"? Come ON.

Well, I first started realizing I was wrong when I heard it was big at the box office, and then when I heard it had won the Golden Globe for Best Picture. But by the night of the Oscars, I was my skeptical self again. I wanted Ron Howard to win Best Director, and I didn't care if it won Best Picture, but no matter what, I did NOT want Russell Crowe to win Best Actor. I'm not sure why, but it's probably because I'm not crazy about him, since I heard what he did to the person who cut his speech short. And he didn't win.

Finally, a few nights ago, I decided to see this Best-Pic winner that critics were calling "moving" and "powerful," so I rented it--and was taken aback. I was shocked. I couldn't believe I had ever doubted this movie before I saw it. First, I'll get over with saying what's NOT good about it: It does feel full of itself, if you know what I mean.

Now for what IS good: The makeup--they had to make the actors look older, and did a nice job. The musical score--at times it could be annoying, but most of the time I liked the mysterious music that set the tone of a somewhat mysterious film. The acting--need I say more? I admit Russell Crowe gave one of the best performances of his career, and although his accent slipped more than once, I believed him. And Ed Harris was a good addition to the cast--(MAJOR SPOILER)he seemed like a good guy, but got freakier as you realize he's not real.

But the true standout performance, according to the Academy and me, was not Russell, not Ed, not even Christopher Plummer as the doctor who diagnoses John Nash with schizophrenia, but Jennifer Connelly. She's a beautiful and very powerful actress, and really made a name for herself with "A Beautiful Mind"--not just by winning the Oscar, but simply by playing Alicia Nash. I believed every second of her performance (except maybe the whole bathroom mirror scene; that looked a little phony), and although most probably didn't buy the "this is real" line, I did, and I'm not sensitive when it comes to movies.

The only type of person who WOULDN'T enjoy "A Beautiful Mind" would probably be the type that doesn't appreciate a touching, believable drama with excellent directing and wonderful acting...and there are a few goofs to look for, so nit-pickers like me might enjoy hunting for them. However, go for Crowe's performance--or Connelly's if you still aren't convinced------------------8/10

Airplane! (1980)

The white zone is for immediate loading and unloading of passengers. Please do not park in the white zone.

[8/10 · 27 June 2002]

This is one of the funniest things I've ever seen! One of the stupidest, too, but so what? That's what makes it so funny. I have it on DVD and have seen it countless times, but I never tire of it!

It's about an entire flight crew (consisting of one mostly normal guy, a guy who asks children unusual questions [hint, hint], and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) and a plane full of people (consisting of a nun who reads "Boy's Life," a boy who reads "Nun's Life," a girl on life support for a heart transplant, a lady who keeps trying to put makeup on, two dudes that speak "Jive," and many more) who suffer from food poisoning and must get to a hospital. The only person who can fly and land the plane is ex-pilot Ted Striker (Robert Hays)--who only went on the flight in the first place to chase his ex-girlfriend Elaine the stewardess (Julie Hagerty)--but now he's afraid of flying and has a drinking problem.

This movie is full of dumb lines ("Don't call me Shirley") that hold it together, along with funny situations (two Girl Scouts having a bar fight in a flashback) that make it hilarious. Don't see this if you're in the mood for a serious movie, but if you're in one for a funny movie, this is a definite, sure-fire choice.

Almost Famous (2000)

I AM A GOLDEN GOD!!!! (some spoilers)

[8/10 · 26 June 2002]

In one sentence, "Almost Famous" deserved its Best Writing Oscar to a T. It also deserved its Best Supporting Actress nominations for Kate Hudson and Frances McDormand. I totally believed both of them--Hudson as the beautiful, mysterious Penny Lane and McDormand as Elaine Miller, the overprotective but loving mom.

But it also should have been recognized for other actors as well. Jason Lee and Billy Crudup were amazing as members of Stillwater, Patrick Fugit was great as William Miller, and Zooey Deschanel was awesome in her almost cameo role as Anita. Also, Cameron Crowe should have been nominated for Best Director. Truthfully, I think "Almost Famous" deserved at least a nomination for Best Picture.

The gist: 15-year-old William Miller (Fugit) gets to write for Rolling Stone and travel with Stillwater. Along with them travel sexy groupies known as Band-Aids. Among them is Penny Lane (Hudson), a pretty but secretive teen who uses the name from a famous Beatles song to avoid her real name. As William gets to know this young woman way out of his league, he starts to fall for her. Unfortunately, she won't tell him how old she is, and Russell Hammond (Crudup), Stillwater's guitarist, also wants to be with her. To complicate things further, both the Band-Aids and Stillwater use drugs and do many other obscene things (including "deflowering" William)--many of them while he's on the phone with his mom (McDormand)--and William can never get a second alone with anyone of Stillwater to interview them.

My favorite scenes are the "Tiny Dancer" scene, the scene where they think the plane is going to crash, the scene where the sister comes home, and when Penny Lane sends Russell to William's house instead of hers. The deflowering scene is also great because you can feel the electrifying chemistry between William and Penny as they stare at each other. I think the scene that really reflects Kate Hudson's role is when she tries to commit suicide and William literally has to hold her up.

Patrick Fugit hasn't been in many films, but since this, he's probably wanted for many more. And Kate Hudson was originally cast as Anita, but wanted to read for Penny Lane. I think she, Fugit, Jason Lee, Billy Crudup, and Frances McDormand are the glue that holds this masterpiece together, not to mention the spectacular directing job by Crowe. Anyone and everyone should love "Almost Famous"---10/10

Whose Line Is It Anyway? (1998–2007)

my favorite

[10/10 · 23 June 2002]

This is my favorite show. I love the new and old versions, and my favorite parts are the hoedowns, the Irish drinking songs, and anything musical. I also love the props game, the six o'clock news, and the commercial games.

Drew Carey is his usual half-comedian, half-straight man self, Ryan Stiles and Colin Mochrie are hilarious, and Wayne Brady is brilliant. I think Brady is the best improviser on the show. I've never once seen him draw a blank, and everything he thinks of never fails to make me laugh out loud. I especially like the game where Stiles and Mochrie make up songs for him to sing (usually bizarre and impossible) and he pulls it off perfectly.

It didn't surprise me to read that Stiles and Mochrie have known each other for twenty years. They have great chemistry on the show, and even for an improvised show that's important, because they're usually cast together. Like Wayne Brady, I've never seen Colin Mochrie draw a blank, although sometimes you get the feeling Stiles is trying to screw him (by thinking of something really crazy) and he has to pause for half a second. I like the episode where he has to act like a gerbil. Ryan Stiles is priceless, and even though I saw him draw a blank once (during a hoedown, but Drew Carey thought of something really fast and sang it behind him), he usually makes me laugh, too. Especially the episode that he did this hoedown: I'm so ugly, I'll never get a lover/When I go outside all the dogs run for cover/I'm wide and I'm round and my back is all hairy/Yes! You guessed it--my name is Drew Carey! But my favorite episode is the one where Ryan and Colin were cast as Noah and his wife, and they had to kiss.

Despite some mature jokes, this show is great for the whole family. My rating for it is 11/10 and ******/*****.

Summer Catch (2001)

a sorry excuse for a romantic comedy

[1/10 · 22 June 2002]

I love romantic comedies. Most of them. Especially if they're actually, um, ROMANTIC. And if the humor is good.

I thought "Summer Catch" had a cute plot, and a good title. So I popped in the DVD and watched it with my mom. Well, as it turned out, I had to sit and blush through an hour and a half of unoriginal thong jokes, makeout sessions between two characters that produce no chemistry whatsoever, and bad acting. I didn't laugh at loud once, which is rare for me, and I didn't even buy Ryan and Tenley's relationship, which is rarer.

About the bad acting, Freddie Prinze, Jr., was never an award-winner. But in this flick, I don't believe a word he says. And Jessica Beil is pretty good most of the time, but at other parts she is monotonous. But they are both really cute, so it's appealing more to the eye than the mind.

The only thing that makes this movie worth watching (if it even is) is Matthew Lilliard and Brittany Murphy. Lilliard plays Prinze, Jr.,'s hyperactive sidekick who eventually falls for Murphy, the outlandish but likable town tramp who pours beer in guys' mouths from bottles between her legs (one of the few priceless scenes).

If you're looking for a funny movie, this is an okay choice, but not if you're looking for a romance.

The Others (2001)

"The others said they wouldn't. But they did."

[9/10 · 15 June 2002]

Imagine: Someone makes a scary thriller...and it actually has a BRAIN! Well, maybe I'm exaggerating, because some other thrillers do. Take "The Sixth Sense" or "Vanilla Sky" for instance. They had plots, and made you think. But take, say, "House on Haunted Hill" (the remake)? Blood. Sex. Gore. Bad special effects. Scares? A real plot? Any reason for making the movie whatsoever besides cheap thrills and money? I think not. "The Others" isn't gross at all. The character development is good, and the musical score and sound is outstanding. And Nicole Kidman gives one of her best performances to date.

Kidman is Grace, a prim, religious 1940's mother with two photosensitive children, Anne and Nicholas. Every day, instead of school, the children study the Bible by candlelight. (By the way, the setting for the story is great, too. Almost the entire film is shot inside the beautiful but very dark house.) At the beginning, three mysterious servants come to work at the house--even though the advertisement Grace meant to send out never got mailed. This is because, they say, the servants worked in the house before.

Soon, Anne begins mentioning Victor, a boy that assumingly keeps talking to her. While at first it looks like a good plan to scare Nicholas, eventually Grace hears noises in the abandoned room upstairs. The old forbidden piano starts playing after the children and servants are asleep, and even though a door isn't supposed to be opened without the previous one being closed first, Grace keeps seeing the door behind her in the corner of her eye open.

This might not sound interesting or scary, but you have to see it. The setup for each sudden, frightening moment is about three-quarters of what really scares you, and that's true for most other movies, too. I probably shouldn't go on with the plot, because this is one of the only movies where just one little spoiler ruins the entire movie.

"The Others" is also probably the only movie that scares you out of your wits every time, not just the first time, and at the same time doesn't give you nightmares for weeks. Probably because none of the scary images are really enough to stick in your head.

The children, Alakina Mann and James Bentley, are excellent young actors, especially James Bentley. He deserves the Young Artist Award he received for this picture, no question about it, and Alakina Mann deserves her nomination.

I hate to break it to you fans of gory thrillers, but blood and guts just aren't scary. Sure, they're gross, but they're more hokey than frightening, and it looks as if the filmmakers haven't got anything better to lengthen the movie with, like actual content. Movies like "The Others" really deserve praise for using things important to the plot, or at least explaining them at the end. I recommend this to anyone who's in the mood for a good scare without the gore.

What Women Want (2000)

It's all worth it when you see Mel Gibson waxing his legs.

[9/10 · 15 June 2002]

When this movie started, I didn't know if I would like it, although it had a very powerful beginning. But eventually (around the part I mentioned) I realized that it's very funny. And you've gotta love the romance!

Mel Gibson is Nick Marshall, a womanizer who at the same time doesn't understand women at all. When the womanliest of all women, Darcy Maguire (Helen Hunt), starts to work with his company, she assigns everyone to think of advertising ideas for at least one feminine item in the boxes she gives them (pantyhose, lipstick, mascara, a wonderbra, nail polish, etc.). Nick tries to think, but instead gets drunk and paints his nails, tries on the mascara and pantyhose, and yes, waxes his legs. That night, a freak accident occurs in his apartment, and then he can hear what women are thinking. He uses this asset to steal Darcy's ideas, and at the same time falls in love with her.

Besides Gibson and Hunt's performances, there are three other reasons I love this movie. One, Marisa Tomei, who is perky and cute as Nick's previous uninterested love interest, a coffee-shop girl named Lola. But just when Nick gets less desperate for her and more so for Darcy, Lola discovers that she really does like him. Two, Ashley Johnson, who is demanding but lovable as Nick's teenage daughter from a previous marriage. He can hear her thoughts, too, and finds out that she's planning to lose her virginity on prom night. Although he tries to stop her, she eventually learns the lesson on her own. Three, it has an awesome soundtrack. Frank Sinatra, the Temptations, Nancy Wilson, and Bobby Darin sing old classics, while Christina Agulera and Meredith Brooks perform fairly new hits.

Anybody who likes comedy, romance, or just a great movie should see "What Women Want." I think it's one of the few unisex romantic comedies (not chick flicks) there are, so it's a great date movie.

Rain Man (1988)

C-H-A-R-L-I-E, my main man

[9/10 · 15 June 2002]

No offense, but anyone who can possibly find anything bad to say about "Rain Man" either doesn't understand the movie, doesn't appreciate excellent acting or directing or screenplay writing, or simply needs to get a life. By the way, I am under 14, and I loved the story of Raymond and Charlie Babbitt.

Like practically everyone else said, Dustin Hoffman soars. So does Tom Cruise--this was actually the first Cruise film I ever saw and didn't even like him at first because his character was so selfish and dependent. Now back to Hoffman. There wasn't a single moment where I didn't believe that he was autistic. I was on Raymond's side most of the time, but sometimes he got REALLY frustrating.

One of the funniest things in this movie was that Raymond and Charlie were one of the most mismatched duos in screenwriting history. If everything wasn't exactly the way Charlie wanted it, he'd throw a fit. (Actually, that's one thing he and Raymond had in common!) He was the exact opposite of understanding. When Raymond started to gripe that something wasn't working out, IT DROVE CHARLIE NUTS! One of the ways they show this is when Charlie yells "SON OF A B***H!" out in the middle of nowhere.

I also like the part when Susanna tells Raymond that just because the hooker didn't want to meet him didn't mean that there weren't any other women who would like him, and then she kisses him. Most men would go wild if that happened--Susanna was so attractive and smart--but Raymond hardly understood what was going on ("So how was that?" "Wet.").

Another thing I appreciated about this film was that it didn't have a Hollywood ending; it was believable. But when it did end, I was sad because I wanted more! I suppose if you're the sensitive type, unlike me (or maybe I'm just too young), you should have a box of Kleenex handy, but at other times, the only crying you'll do is from laughing too much. Overall, "Rain Man" was a very touching and funny film, and I'd recommend it to anyone who appreciates a very good movie.

Kate & Leopold (2001)

expand your beliefs, like romance, and you'll love this flick

[7/10 · 11 June 2002]

Kate lives in the apartment below Stuart, her ex-boyfriend. Stuart has found a time portal below the Brooklyn Bridge, and takes a sleek little camera into 1876, where a duke named Leopold prepares to pick a wife. Intrigued, Leopold follows Stuart all the way to the bridge and accidentally lands in 2001 with him. And soon, he meets Kate.

Kate is used to a very fast-paced life, while Leopold takes things slower--which is the beginning of a very long list of their differences. And at the beginning, their relationship--if they even have one--is rocky. But Leopold remains interested in getting to know Kate, and eventually, Kate realizes Leopold is the man she's been looking for.

Me, I'm a sucker for really romantic flicks, but before I saw this, I don't remember anything that I liked this much. For people who don't like romantic comedies, it would probably seem sappy, but to me, it was excellent. This was the first movie that made my eyes water that wasn't sad. The chemistry between Ryan and Jackman is unbelievable. Leopold is so sweet to Kate that all the single women out there will probably wish a smart, poetic gentleman will come out of the past for them.

I saw the director's cut, which adds all the footage you see if you click "alternate versions," and I thought it was fine. I won't spoil anything, though.

If "Kate and Leopold" had any flaws, it would probably be that there isn't enough screen time of the two title characters together. There's too much of everything else around them. But in the short time it shows, it's VERY romantic. And some of the time-traveling stuff isn't very believable, but hey, it's a fantasy.

Meg Ryan's character, Kate McKay, is pretty likable. . She is a little outspoken, but I think that's what Leopold liked in her--she wasn't afraid to speak her mind. Also, he says her beauty is like moonlight shining on her face, or something similar.

Hugh Jackman is just about perfect as Leopold. I read that he had training, and you totally believe that he's a duke from 1876. I just love the scene where he gets Kate's purse back for her.

And another great thing is the end credits...or the song played during them. "Until" by Sting is a keeper, and ranks up on my list, just like "Kate and Leopold" with movies.

Although it's not picture-perfect, "Kate and Leopold" will always be one of my favorites--------8/10