AdrienneNaylor Reviews

Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde (2003)

Well, if you like animal humour . . . .

[5/10 · 2 June 2004]

I bought this DVD at Blockbuster used for really super cheap, so I guess I didn't lose out that much. I bought it on an impulse because I found the first one to be such a pleasant, empowering, feel-good kind of movie whose only weakness was the chihuahua. Imagine my horror when I discovered within the first few minutes that the whole sequel centred around the damned dog. I suppose there do exist those who get a chuckle out of a dogs in funny outfits, but, euh . . . .

Other than that, it still had plenty of weaknesses. Too much of it was just SO not grounded to the point where even whimsical I couldn't suspend my disbelief enough to buy it. I mean, cheerleading interns crawling on the ground, booty dancing and barking while crunchy old politicians bob their heads? The stern old lady breaking down and weeping publically at the story of a boy and his puppy? Aside from agreeing to do the movie, Reese Witherspoon did nothing wrong-- she was adorable. Bob Newhart was also really cute, but the whole movie is just kinda dumb.

And while I do not advocate animal cruelty, I do NOT like beasts, let alone movies about them. There are better things to do with your 95 minutes.

The Producers (1967)

What Peter Sellers said

[10/10 · 10 March 2004]

The very first time I saw this movie, I literally fell off of the sofa laughing. It's the most outrageous, hilarious, offensive, and at once appealing movie imaginable! The characters are all enthralling and the only thing funnier than their dialogue would be their expressions and reactions. It's so clever, brutal, and fun-filled. I'd watch it every day several times a day if I could! It's Mel Brooks' first movie, but in my opinion, it's by far his best.

I can't fathom anyone disliking this film. Buy it-- and buy it on DVD so you can watch 'Making of'!!! It was nearly as good as the movie!!!

Troll (1986)

Harry Potter Junior . . . .

[8/10 · 15 February 2004]

I'm more biased toward liking this movie because I kinda grew up on it. As pathetic as it is to say now, certain scenes were too scary for me to even watch.

Anyway, it's a really cute and fanciful movie full of imaginative whatnot. I mean, come on! An ancient troll takes over a modern apartment building, transforming it into a faerie tale wilderness, complete with a chorus of singing trolls. Wonderful.

The Pajama Game (1957)

Pajama Lame

[3/10 · 6 January 2004]

I love cheesy old musicals, but this just didn't do it for me. It's like the show was written to string together a bunch of clever song and dance sequences-- and not too well, if you ask me. There were definitely some nice moments that make you feel as though you are not wasting your time, but I couldn't get past the whole romance with her boss-- we call that sexual harrassment, today. Good stuff: Fosse choreography, most evident in the Steam Heat number.

Summary: there's fun to be had, but don't expect much overall.

Ran (1985)

Ran ruined my life . . . . in a good way.

[10/10 · 4 January 2004]

I've always been quite susceptible to the tragic nature of Lear . . . . but when I saw this movie, it was DEVASTATING. Yeah I've known and cried over Lear since I was 14, but seeing Ran . . . . I was just thrown into shock. I couldn't even cry for the longest time. The artistry, the imagery, the characters-- just the POWER of it all . . . . whoever made this movie was a genius and that violent chick was so cool.

If you're looking for a light family comedy, this is not your best option.

Bus Stop (1956)

The most dreadful movie in my memory

[2/10 · 4 January 2004]

So I got the Diamond Collection for Christmas and was looking forward to seeing this one in particular as I'd seen the others.

Oh, heavens; it was wretched. I love Marilyn Monroe-- she's my hero-- but this was NOT her role. She plays this mountain hick slut, but she can't maintain the accent. Even if she could, that's not the kind of thing I want to hear coming out of her mouth. Her voice is one of my favourite things about her, so naturally I couldn't look at her the same. And someone had the idea to put this clown white stuff all over the entirety of her exposed body, which was pretty cool until she was sitting side by side with a normally complected person. Too strange. While it pained me to watch and listen to her deliberately horrid performance of the Black Magic song, it took talent to do it that frightfully. I gained a great deal of respect for her after that scene.

The plot makes you want to kick whoever wrote it. I hated Bo's character. Hearing him yell, 'CHERRY!!! CHERRY!!!' makes me cringe. I hated the ending. Good things? It has a few undeniably pleasant moments, [that one line from Bo in the end made me cry and ooze!!!] but otherwise, I am of the belief that it should not have been made.

School of Rock (2003)

Anyone who dislikes this movie has no heart.

[10/10 · 30 November 2003]

Seeing this movie was the absolute highlight of my MONTH! Words cannot capture my enthusiasm for this film-- it horrified me to see that anyone had given it less than a ten! It's just the perfect feel-good movie for . . . . anyone. The characters, the story, EVERYTHING. And did I mention how incredibly funny I found it? I was literally screaming laughter! Too much! I plan on purchasing the DVD the DAY it comes out!!!

Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2 (2000)

This movie should not have been made

[1/10 · 30 November 2003]

How anyone could have liked it is beyond me. I'm not so much concerned about how it carried on the idea of the original, but the characters were so stupid that I just wanted to kick them-- OH, their stupidness. Like their 'goth girl'? Ooh, so goth that she's listening to P.O.D. in the van. I wouldn't have cared so much if they had just had her dressed like that, but they called her goth through the whole movie-- and she's always giving the little 'rock' sign. They really should have done some research on the subculture before they actually released such idiocy.

And their witch. Ugh. While I don't really think that Wiccans are the most enlightened people, I've never known any of them to be as ridiculously . . .. ridiculous as theirs. I'm sure that Wiccans everywhere were as offended by her as I was by the 'goth girl'. Again: RESEARCH, people.

Some of the movie was interesting, even thought provoking, and yet I can't bring myself to watch it again. They could have done something really good with it, too, which is the depressing part.

Lake Placid (1999)

Betty White is the absolute only reason to watch this movie

[4/10 · 29 November 2003]

My husband made me watch this movie because he likes this kind of nonsense. I detested all of it except for when Betty White came on to deliver a fabulously wonderful and exceedingly hilarious performance. While she's only a minor character, it's worth sitting through this whole crappy 82 minute movie just to see her.

The Brain That Wouldn't Die (1962)

It's cheesy, but you really must love it

[8/10 · 29 November 2003]

I love buying those cheap, lousy DVD's from Alpha Video. One day, I happened to buy this one. It's the perfect silly science fiction film of the 50's, all sexed up. Replete with unscientific EVERYTHING, scantily clad girls and plenty of melodrama, it's an enjoyable film, to those who appreciate this kind of stuff. And if you can 'suspend your disbelief' enough, you can actually get creeped out-- not just by the psychotic head or by the beating of the thing in the closet, but toward the end, with the character of 'the perfect body'. It's so . . . . what's another word for mindf***ing?