redlippedqueen Reviews

Inventing the Abbotts (1997)

Perfect in its simplicity

[7/10 · 29 July 2005]

This film is an old favorite of mine. The story takes you back in time, and brilliantly captures the attitudes and prejudices of small town life. Every actor in this film gives such a genuine performance that you can't help being sucked into their world, a world where what is said by the rich can either save or condemn as they see fit. Each location used in the film leaves an imprint on you, from the garage where the brothers always unite over a game of ping-pong to the romance of the abandoned farm where the sparks of love really begin to fly. "Inventing the Abbotts" is a coming of age story that captures the awkwardness of adolescence without all the cheese that so often pervades the genre. It is a tale of love and lust, rich and poor, pure and simple.

The Mists of Avalon (2001)

What a horrible botch

[18 May 2005]

I'll admit readily that I am a bit of a purist when it comes to books and their film counterparts. However, this film was in my opinion a horrible mishmash that left out enormous chunks of crucial information from the book. I also thought that the casting was off. Morgaine is supposed to be short and of dark complexion. It is frequently noted in Marion Zimmer Bradley's excellent novel that Morgaine is taunted for being short and dark, "Like one of the faeries." Viviane is also supposed to be short and dark. I think that Angelica Huston is a wonderful actress, but she's simply too tall and pale to be Viviane. Story and casting aside, the costumes were all wrong as well. In the book the priestesses only wear three colors: black, blue, and white. It was just too colorful. Overall, I thought that this mini-series did the book no justice and was a horrible botch of what was such an amazing and enchanting novel.

Velvet Goldmine (1998)

A Musical Mosaic

[7/10 · 14 May 2004]

I've seen this film a number of times, and have introduced it to a number of people. The results of these viewings have been mixed. Some genuinely enjoy it as I do, while others criticize the music, or say that the plot is difficult to follow. I think the film is fantastic. While, no the movie does not necessarily hit a neat and tidy point at its end it has given you something to think about. The actors all really throw themselves into their roles. I think to really enjoy Velvet Goldmine you need to just sit down, listen, and watch. It's the kind of film you have to just let lead you. Maybe it's more an intricate musical mosaic than anything else. It's not one story told from one point of view. It's a few peoples' versions of what they remember. Memories are imperfect, and thus so is the film. It is however a unique and amazing effort. Bravo to all involved.

Jurassic Park (1993)

Cretaceous Park

[4/10 · 12 August 2003]

All right, maybe I'm super picky because I used to aspire to be a paleontologist, but has anyone else noticed that almost every dinosaur in this movie is from the cretaceous period. While I understand that "Cretaceous Park" is not the catchiest of titles, why couldn't they at least use dinosaurs from the Jurassic period if they were going to call it by the title they chose. In any event, aside from dino details getting on my nerves, the movie wasn't any kind of steaming crap pile or anything. I think my favorite thing about the movie is the soundtrack. It has it's funny moments, i.e. (when the guy gets eaten off the toilet, etc.), and it's rather suspenseful moments with the raptors. Overall, I enjoyed it when I was a kid, (except for little things like the fact that I knew that velociraptors were the size of chickens), but now, having gotten a little older it doesn't quite excite me the way it used to. It's a decent movie for what it's worth, but nothing too incredibly special.