Titanic
shows the directing and writing talents of James Cameron. Twenty years later,
it has not dated itself in any way and remains completely re-watchable with no
loss of its original power or impact. It’s a long film—195 minutes—but, that
daunting length only enhances its appeal. It’s one of those films you never
want to end.
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Storyline
The
story of the Titanic is told through the hopeless love triangle between Jack
Dawson (Leonardo DiCaprio), Rose Dewitt Bukater (Kate Winslet), and Cal Hockley
(Billy Zane).
Additional Thanks
Thank
you to Director James Cameron for his directing efforts. Thank you to Executive
Producer Rae Sanchini for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast
include: Molly Brown (Kathy Bates), Ruth Dewitt Bukater (Frances Fisher), Old
Rose (Gloria Stuart), Brock Lovett (Bill Paxton), Captain Smith (Bernard Hill),
and Spicer Lovejoy (David Warner).
The Color Purple
becomes an outstanding tribute to the directing style of Steven
Spielberg. The film richly packs itself with powerful, undulating waves of life's dreams, disappointments, justice, injustice, desires fulfilled, and desires thwarted. Spielberg captures life's voice. Danny Glover and Whoopi Goldberg play off each other in such a complete and natural way that viewers are unaware of the terrific attention to detail that each scene relies upon to tell their life story. Watch for Laurence
Fishburne and Oprah Winfrey in this movie.
Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia
Storyline
Two
sisters Celie (Deserita Jackson) and Nettie Harris (Akosua Bustia) live with a
sexually abusive Father, Pa Harris (Leonard Jackson). Farmer Albert (Danny
Glover) choses the youngest sister for marriage, but Pa Harris refuses and
gives the oldest daughter to Albert. Albert agrees, takes her home, and treats
her as poorly as her father did. Nettie comes to stay with Celie and the story
is off and running as lives begin to unfold in a series of dramatic events that
make it seem that a happy ending is impossible.
Additional Thanks
Thank
you to Director Steven Spielberg for his directing efforts. Thank you to
Executive Producers Peter Guber and Jon Peters for making the film possible.
Additional characters/cast include: Shug Avery (Margaret Avery), Sofia (Oprah
Winfrey), Harpo Johnson (Willard E. Pugh), Young Celie Harris (Desreta
Jackson), Old Mister Johnson (Adolph Caesar), Squeak (Rae Dawn Chong), Miss
Millie (Dana Ivey), Grady (Bennet Guillory), Preacher (John Patton, Jr.),
Reverend Samuel (Carl Anderson), and Corrine (Susan Beaubian).
Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?
Yes.
This film absolutely makes the 'add to the home library' list as well as the Ben Meyers' Top 100 Hollywood Films list. Video Critique Available Here:
Code Name: The Cleaner has
an ‘I’ve been here before feeling’ to its story. Everything in this film is in
place but it fails to be outstanding.
Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia
Storyline
Jake
Rodgers (Cedric The Entertainer) wakes up next to the dead body of an FBI
agent. He has no memory of the incident or who he is or what his former life
was like. Suddenly he is surrounded with people who begin filling in all the
fantastic details and he comes to believe he is an undercover agent.
Additional Thanks
Thank
you to Director Les Mayfield for his directing abilities in this film. Thank
you to Executive Producers A.J. Dix, Toby Emmerich, Mark Kaufman, Lucy Liu,
Matt Moore, Anthony Rhulen, and William Shively for making the film possible.
Additional characters/cast include: Gina (Lucy Liu), Diane (Nicollette
Sheridan), Eric Hauck (Mark Dacascos), Shaw (Callum Keith Rennie), Jacuzzi
(Niecy Nash), Ronnie (DeRay Davis), Riley (Will Patton), and Doctor Soames
(Kevin McNulty).
Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?
Yes.
The film is a good afternoon watch when there is a little slack time and
nothing else to watch.
The Manchurian Candidate
uses the classic storyline of the brainwashed assassin activated by a certain
red flag to commit heinous acts. This is a suspense-filled film that uses an
all-star cast to keep the pace going. If you are looking for suspense, this
film will fill the bill nicely.
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Storyline
Major
Bennett ‘Ben’ Marco (Denzel Washington) keeps having memories that Sergeant
First Class Raymond Shaw (Live Schreiber), while under monitoring, kills two of
their comrade in arms during the Gulf War. Ben Marco is questioning his ability
to remember what really happened in the Gulf War. He approaches Shaw with
questions and finds that Shaw is on his way to the presidency.
Additional Thanks
Thank
you to Director Jonathan Demme for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive
Producer Scott Aversano for making the film possible. Additional
characters/cast include: Al Melvin (Jeffrey Wright), Eddie Ingram (Pablo
Schreiber), Robert Baker (Anthony Mackie), Owens (Dorian Missick), Villalobos
(Jose Pablo Cantillo), Wilson (Teddy Dunn), Atkins (Joaquin Perez-Campbell),
Jameson (Tim Artz), Rosie (Kimberly Elise), Senator Thomas Jordan (Jon Voight),
Eleanor Shaw (Meryl Streep), Delp (Bruno Ganz), Jocelyne Jordan (Vera Farmiga),
Mark Whiting (Dean Stockwell), and Atticus Noyle (Simon McBurney).
Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?
Yes.
It can’t be beat and places two very good actors, Denzel Washington and Liev
Schreiber, together. Video Critique available Here:
Three
Fugitives—genuinely comical—uses the talents of Nick Nolte and Martin Short to
tell its story. Other critics have rated this film as a flop, but it generated fair box office dollar returns, has great to good acting, and a perfect script. It provides terrific
entertainment for the teen/adult.
Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia
Storyline
Lucas
(Nick Nolte), just released from prison for armed robbery, is picked up by
Dugan (James Earl Jones), a policeman he has known for awhile. Lucas asks Dugan
to stop by a bank so he can get cash for the money he earned in prison. An amateur
robber, Ned Perry (Martin Short), walks in and holds the bank up, and Dugan
assumes Lucas and Ned planned the robbery together. The story is on as a gun
misfires and Lucas and Ned flee for their lives with police in pursuit.
Additional Thanks
Thank
you to Director Francis Veber for his directing efforts. Thank you to Executive
Producer Francis Veber for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast
include: Lucas (Nick Nolte), Ned Perry (Martin Short), Meg Perry (Sarah Rowland
Doroff), Dugan (James Earl Jones), Tener (Alan Ruck), Horvath (Kenneth
McMillan), Bank Teller (David Arnott), Charlie (Bruce McGill), and Woman Cop
(Lee Garlington).
Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?
Yes.
An action star teams with a comedian and together make a good movie. Video Critique Available Here:
Dressed to Kill—a
murder mystery—satisfies the seasoned audience, but will fall short of
expectations for the modern audience. It delivers a straight forward storyline
that, in its time, would have been appreciated by the mystery fan; but becomes
almost laughable by today’s standards. It performs as a B-grade movie with poor
to fair acting and a script that needs a serious rewrite. It does not compare
on any level to the old Charlie Chan mysteries
or to the Thin Man stories.
Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia
Storyline
It
is Detective Michael Shayne’s (Lloyd Nolan) wedding day. He meets his
bride-to-be Joanne La Marr (Mary Beth Hughes) in the Hotel du Nord, hears a
woman scream, goes to investigate, and finds two murders. As the detective
probes deeper, he finds more dead bodies than solutions.
Additional Thanks
Thank
you to Director Eugene Forde for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive
Producer Sol M. Wurtzel for making the film possible. Additional
characters/cast include: Connie Earle (Sheila Ryan), Inspector Pierson (William
Demarest), Sam (Ben Carter), Lynne Evans (Virginia Brissac), Lynne Evans
(Virginia Brissac), Julian Davis (Henry Daniell), Al-Police Detective (Dick
Rich), and Carlo Ralph (Erwin Kalser).
Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?
Maybe.
If you are hardcore murder mystery fan, this film works for a fill-in-the-time flick. Video Critique Available Here:
The Sixth Sense
bears the unmistakable M. Night Shyamalan hallmark from its suspenseful beginning
to its astonishing ending. The supernatural thriller casts Bruce Willis with
the highly talented Haley Joel Osment to
create a film that audiences will not soon forget.
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Storyline
Dr.
Malcolm Crowe (Bruce Willis), a child psychologist, has just received his first
award for his work in child psychology. When he comes home he is confronted
with an older version of a child he had once treated, Vincent Grey (Donnie
Wahlberg), who shoots Dr. Malcolm Crowe and then commits suicide. A year later,
an apparently recovered Dr. Crowe reviews the records of Cole Sear (Hayley Joel
Osment), a young boy who apparently has similar challenges as Vincent Grey. Dr.
Crowe talks with Cole and the story is on as Dr. Crowe attempts to be a better
listener and believer in what a child patient tells him.
Additional Thanks
Thank
you to Director M. Night Shyamalan for his directing efforts. Thank you to
Executive Producer Sam Mercer making the film possible. Additional
characters/cast include: Dr. Malcolm Crowe (Bruce Willis), Cole Sear (Haley
Joel Osment), Lynn Sear (Toni Collette), Anna Crowe (Olivia Williams), Tommy
Tammisimo (Trevor Morgan), Vincent Grey (Donnie Wahlberg), Darren (Peter
Anthony Tambakis), and Bobby (Jeffrey Zubernis).
Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?
Yes.
The film is very well written, acted, and has the traditional M. Night
Shyamalan surprise ending. Video Critique Available Here:
The Queen
turns itself into a type of explication of the Queen’s handling of Princess
Diana’s death. The film is worth a watch, not only due to the outstanding
portrayal of the Queen by Helen Mirren, but also because it reveals a side of
the Queen that one rarely contemplates beyond the façade of glamour and
rectitude—a person with great love of the outdoors, a good understanding of mechanical
work, long-standing experience with a very large variety of England’s prime
ministers, and tremendous concern for the welfare of country as well as of
family. Casting picked James Cromwell to play the Queen's husband, the Duke of Edinburgh Prince Philip, and Michael Sheen to play
Prime Minister Blair.
Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia
Storyline
Queen
Elizabeth II (Helen Mirren) faces the introduction of England’s new prime minister, Tony Blair,
and becomes a high public profile figure as the announcement comes of Princess
Diana’s death.
Additional Thanks
Thank
you to Director Stephen Frears for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive
Producers Francois Ivernel, Cameron McCracken, and Scott Rudin for making the
film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Prince Philip (James Cromwell), Prince Charles (Alex Jennings), Tony Blair (Michael Sheen), Robin Janyrin
(Roger Allam), Queen Mother (Sylvia Syms), Stephen Lamport (Tim McMullan),
Equerry (Robin Soans), Janvrin’s Secretary (Lola Peploe), Lord Airlie (Douglas
Reith), and Balmoral Maid (Joyce Henderson).
Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?
Yes. It works and definitely is worth a watch. Video Critique Available Here:
Sky High—completely
mastered for the child—employs the talents of Kurt Russell for a fair to
middling afternoon piece of entertainment.
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Storyline
Will
Stronghold (Michael Angarano), the son of two superpower parents, does not have
superpowers and is relegated to the role of Hero Support when he begins ninth
grade. Through a series of events, Will begins to find himself and in finding
himself discovers who his true friends are while uncovering a fiendish plot.
Additional Thanks
Thank
you to Director Mike Mitchell for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive
Producers Mario Iscovich and Ann Marie Sanderlin for making the film possible.
Additional characters/cast include: Steve Stronghold/The Commander (Kurt
Russell), osie Stronghold/Jetstream (Kelly Preston), Layla (Danielle
Panabaker), News Anchor (Christopher Wynne), Ron Wilson/Bus Driver (Kevin
Heffernan), Ethan (Dee Jay Daniels), Magenta (Kelly Vitz), and Little Larry
(Loren Berman).
Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?
Maybe.
It’s not the best superhero film out there, but definitely works for the young
child needing entertainment. Video Critique available Here:
The Legend of Drunken Master—a sequel to Jackie Chan’s 1978 release Drunken Master—does not match the entertainment value of the first
story. The first story involves itself more in the art of Drunken Masters,
their agility, their power and their capabilities while this film involves
itself more in its story with strong emphasis on the main character’s family
interactions. All in all, though, the Drunken
Master films should never be missed. They are outstanding.
Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia
Storyline
Through
a series of mishaps Wong Fei-hung (Jackie Chan) becomes involved with the
British Consulate, counter intelligence, and the Chinese military in the
unraveling of an illegal exportation of valuable Chinese artifacts.
Additional Thanks
Thank
you to Director Chia Liang Liufor directing efforts. Thank you to Executive
Producer Leonard Ho for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast
include: Wong Kei-ying (Lung Ti), Ling (Anita Mui), Tsang (Felix Wong), Master
Fu Wen-Chi (Chia-Liang Liu), John (Ken Lo), Fo Sang (Kar Lok Chin), Henry
(Ho-Sung Pak), and Tso (Chi-Kwong Cheung).
Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?
Yes.
This is a unique martial arts film. * Also known as Jui Kuen II and Drunken Master II Video Critique Available Here:
The Reunion
has good action scenes and a good storyline, but the overall film needs higher
realism and stronger acting ability. Some scripted lines are not well said,
lack strength, and often come off as comical rather than serious such as
several of the scenes between the three brothers arguing among themselves. John
Cena has a certain screen presence, however, that
can be built on if given a stronger script that lends itself directly to comedy
or to action.
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Storyline
Three
half-brothers reunite while on a dangerous trip into Mexico to retrieve a man
who has skipped bail and kidnapped a wealthy American citizen.
Additional Thanks
Thank
you to Director Michael Pavone for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive
Producers David Calloway and Lori Lewis for making the film possible.
Additional characters/cast include: Sam Carey (John Cena), Leo Carey (Ethan
Embry), Nina Carey (Amy Smart), Canton (Michael Rispoli), Douglas Carey (Boyd
Holbrook), Wills (Gregg Henry), Theresa Trujillo (Lela Loren), Nealon (Jack
Conley), and Verdugo (J.D. Garfield).
Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?
Maybe.
If you are hardcore John Cena fan, this film may provide the proper ‘fix’, but
if you are looking for a ‘risking your life to save someone’ film, Liam Neeson’s
Taken has higher impact. Video Critique Available Here:
How to Steal a Million—cute
and fun—follows through with some great interaction between Peter O’Toole,
Audrey Hepburn, a young Eli Wallach, and Hugh Griffith to provide a simple,
straightforward story with easy comedy built in.
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Storyline
Nicole’s
(Audrey Hepburn) father, Charles Bonnet (Hugh Griffith) forges famous artistic
works and passes them off as genuine. Nicole is afraid her father will get
caught and the story is on as the family’s forged statuette, Venus by Cellini,
is about to be investigated by museum insurance personnel.
Additional Thanks
Thank
you to Director William Wyler for his directing efforts. Thank you to Producer
Fred Kohlmar for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include:
Simon Dermott (Peter O-Toole), David Leland (Eli Wallach), DeSolnay (Charles
Boyer), Grammont (Fernand Gravey), Senor Paravideo (Marcel Dalio), Chief Guard
(Jacques Marin), Guard (Moustache), and Auctioneer (Roger Tréville).
Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?
Yes.
It is a particular treat to see Peter O’Toole in some of his earlier films. Video Critique Available Here:
Harlock: Space Pirate—Japanese anime—contains cutting edge animation
technique and times itself with well-placed, great special effects. However, the
storyline is complicated and becomes a bit difficult to follow as it does not
always set the groundwork for why provided information is significant; the
script is not self-explanatory. Story portrayal is very good to great with
terrific characterization.
Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia
Storyline
Humans
have populated thousands of the universe’s planets, but need to return to earth
for repopulation. However, repatriation causes a war so severe that a special
commission bans earth forever as a planet for human habitation. The elite of
the special commission decide they have special privileges and that they alone
will be allowed to immigrate to earth. The chief defender of earth, Harlock,
believes this to be unfair and hypocritical. He goes rogue to ensure justice.
Additional Thanks
Thank you to Director Shinji Aramaki for directing efforts.
Thank you to Producers Joseph Chou, Yoshi Ikezawa, Rei Kudo for making the film
possible. Additional characters/cast include: Miime (voice of Yû Aoi), Kei Yuki
(voice of Jessica Boone), Tori-san (voice ofAyano Fukuda), Yattaran (voice of
Arata Furuta), Yama/Logan (voice ofAdam Gibbs), Roujin (voice of Kiyoshi
Kobayashi), Captain Harlock (voice of David Matranga), Yama (voice of Haruma
Miura), and Isora (voice of Toshiyuki Morikawa).
Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?
Yes.
It’s a good study into the future of film making techniques. However, do a bit
of research and study the film’s overall story before delving into watching the
movie in order to maximize entertainment value and understanding. Video Critique Available Here:
Little Big Man
takes the traditional western story and gives it an entirely new spin. The script
is exceptionally clever in that the story waivers between the slightly comedic
to the slightly ironic while not sparing the less than heroic, grisly details involved
in serious cultural clashes. This is a terrific, not to be missed film—simultaneously
provocative and entertaining.
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Storyline
Jack
Crabb (Dustin Hoffman) narrates his life story from the time he is picked up by
Cheyenne as a newly orphaned child to his adoption by a white family to his
interactions with United States military to his reaction to a host of events
that define his life.
Additional Thanks
Thank you to Director Arthur Penn for directing efforts.
Thank you to Producer Stuart Millar for making the film possible. Additional
characters/cast include: Mrs. Pendrake (Faye Dunaway), Old Lodge Skins (Chief
Dan George), Mr. Merriweather (Martin Balsam), General George A. Custer
(Richard Mulligan), Wild Bill Hickok (Jeff Corey), Sunshine (Aimee Eccles),
Olga Crabb (Kelly Jean Peters), and Caroline Crabb (Carole Androsky).
Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?
Yes.
It’s at least worth one viewing;
almost contains enough charm to give it classic status. Video Critique Available Here:
Shaft
seems like a take-off from the Clint Eastwood Dirty Harry series with fairly graphic portrayals of sex and
violence. It is interesting that both movies were released in the same year. The
difference between the two movies seems to be in timing and portrayal. The
timing in Shaft seems to be poorly
done and there is a certain amateurish quality that is difficult to ignore and detracts
from its potential. Richard Roundtree is tough looking for the part, but doesn’t
follow through on that toughness in the acting. However, that being said, the
music is good via Isaac Hayes. The film began Richard Roundtree on a
long-standing and successful acting career. The movie is culturally significant
and an outstanding academic study for that reason.
Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia
Storyline
Shaft
(Richard Roundtree), a cool and suave detective from Manhattan Borough, New
York City, gets a job to retrieve Bumpy Jonas’ (Moses Gunn) daughter from the
Italian mafia.
Additional Thanks
Thank
you to Director Gordon Parks for his directing efforts. Thank you to Executive
Producers Stirling Silliphant and Ernest Tidyman for making the film possible.
Additional characters/cast include: Vic Androzzi (Charles Cioffi), Ben Buford
(Christopher St. John), Ellie Moore (Gwenn Mitchell), Tom Hannon (Lawrence Pressman),
Charlie (Victor Arnold), Marcy (Sherri Brewer), and Rollie (Rex Robbins).
Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?
Maybe.
For a hard-core Richard Roundtree fan, this film works. Video Critique Available Here:
Alice in Wonderland—imaginative—is
worth at least one viewing as a historical piece and becomes a good academic study of 1950s
animation capabilities. It also has value as a study of Lewis Carrol metaphor
and simile as interpreted through the combined animation visions of Directors
Clyde Geronimi, Wilford Jackson, and Hamilton Luske.
Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia
Storyline
Alice
fantasizes about what she would like to have instead of doing her homework that
her mother has assigned to her. When she gets to the river, a white rabbit runs
past her stating that he is late. Alice follows the white rabbit to a little
hole. Alice is advised to drink a potion that will shrink her so that she
can go through the door and things are never the same for Alice from that point on.
Additional Thanks
Thank you to Director Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson, and
Hamilton Luske for their directing efforts. Thank you to Producer Walt Disney
for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Alice (voice
of Kathryn Beaumont), Mad Hatter (voice of Ed Wynn), Caterpillar (voice of
Richard Haydn), Cheshire Cat (voice of Sterling Holloway), March Hare (voice of
Jerry Colonna), Queen of Hearts (voice of Verna Felton), Walrus/Carpenter/Dum/Dee
(voice of J. Pat O’Malley), White Rabbit/Dodo (voice of Bill Thompson), Alice’s
Sister (voice of Heather Angel).
Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?
Yes.
It’s a quick moving film that involves the intellect. It's a good
adult/child share movie. Video Critique Available Here:
Wyatt Earp begins
with Wyatt Earp as a young boy and carries the story through to his seasoned
years as a gold miner. Kevin Costner plays as Wyatt, but the role does not suit
him well. Dennis Quaid looks good in the rendition of Doc Holiday; but he,
also, is not able to pull his full acting potential out of his assigned part. It’s
interesting to see Bill Pullman and Mark Harmon in a western of this caliber.
The story is good, but the acting and portrayal put it into the C-grade film
category.
Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia
Storyline
Young
Wyatt Earp (Ian Bohen) meets his two younger brothers in the family’s corn
field, tells them to be good, that he loves them, and that he is going to join
the Union Army as did the older brothers. But his father Nicolas Earp (Gene
Hackman) tracks him down and talks him into going back home to be with his
mother. Later, the two older brothers, James and Virgil, return home with James
badly injured and the family decides to travel west. The film follows events
that shape Wyatt’s personal view of the world, based upon events he experiences
while growing into adulthood and as an adult.
Additional Thanks
Thank
you to Director Lawrence Kasdan for his directing efforts. Thank you to
Executive Producers Dan Gordon, Michael Grillo, Charles Okun, and Jon Slan for
making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Wyatt Earp (Kevin
Costner), Doc Holliday (Dennis Quaid), James Earp (David Andrews), Morgan Earp
(Linden Ashby), Ike Clanton (Jeff Fahey), Josie Marcus (Joanna Going), Sheriff
Johnny Behan (Mark Harmon), and Virgil Earp (Michael Madsen).
Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?
Maybe.
If you’re a hard core Kevin Costner fan, then in all probability, you will like
to love this film. Video Critique Available Here:
