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Titanic (1997)
Unjustly Reviled
While I am sure that many of the negative reviews this movie has received are sincerely meant, I can't resist adding that I think Titanic has suffered, more or less unfairly, from its tremendous box-office success. It is always hard to like a winner, and this makes it difficult to give this film, both over-rated by some and under-rated by others, a fair assessment. I can only say that I feel that for all its obvious shortcomings, Titanic is an exceptional film. At roughly three-hours of running time, the movie never feels long and is never dull. It is both funny and genuinely moving by turns. Whether intentionally or not, James Cameron has endowed the characters and situations in this film with a simplicity and a monumental resonance worthy of a great Nineteenth-century melodrama. While it is not one of the greatest films of all time, Titanic is nevertheless an magnificent production well worth repeated viewings.
The Hobbit (1977)
jrr is rolling in his grave
this movie corrupted all that was good about the hobbit.
the music was frightening.
the script was a product of too many late nights of white lining.
it gives you a brief, misleading summary that not even a child could enjoy.
at least it is better than Ralph Bakshi's LOTR.
apologies to those who actually finished watching the movie.
Roger & Me (1989)
Greatest Political Satire of the 1980's
I should say at the beginning that I am far from being an unconditional admirer of Michael Moore's work. For the most part, neither his films or his books have impressed me. Only once, with Roger and Me, did he ever succeed in doing what he attempts so often. With this movie at least, he has created a perfect work of art which also carries a clear and effective political message. Without ever seeming to preach or to distort what he records, Moore demonstrates the devastating effect the shutdowns at General Motors have had on his home town of Flint. He manages, without giving the impression that he is trying, to make the viewer feel his contempt for the vacuous celebrities, business leaders, and politicians who offer useless advice to the workers left unemployed by the plant closings. This is a very funny movie, but also an extremely bitter one. It inspires not merely laughter, but a sense of outrage and moral indignation quite rare in the films of the last two decades.
Atanarjuat (2001)
Painful
While I suppose I have to respect all those who have seen Atanarjuat and found it a breathtaking work, I have to confess I cannot understand their reaction. Perhaps I am wrong to demand that this first Inuktitut feature film conform to conventionally accepted standards of film-making. Perhaps I am misguided to demand some sense of pacing from this sprawling three hour mess of a film, to demand compelling performances from its actors or some sense of meaning from the story. It can easily be argued that Atanarjuat is not meant to work on the same level as so many of the films moviegoers, even arthouse moviegoers, are accustomed to seeing. Even if this is true however, it is an answer I cannot accept. I hope that more and better Inuktitut films will be made in the future, but I cannot say I think that this is a promising start. For my part, I found Atanarjuat long, dull, pointless, and downright painful to watch.
Pearl Harbor (2001)
Worse Than I Expected
This movie is simply unwatchable. I went to it at least expecting I would get a good laugh, but the whole thing was so dull that I couldn't even enjoy how bad it was. Even the much talked-about action scenes were quite uninspiring. All I felt while watching them was a sense of acute nausea resulting from Michael Bay's penchant for jostling the camera whenever he wants to create a sense of "tension" or "excitement". Stay away at all costs!
O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)
The Coen Brothers' finest film
While it may not be the most profound movie ever made, "O Brother" exudes a cheerful, uncomplicated spirit that no other film can match. Apart from introducing a great deal of beautiful music, the Coen brothers have managed to tell a pleasant, whimsical, and ultimately touching story which is no less than perfect after its own fashion. If you want a movie that makes you think and feel deeply, than it might be better to give this one a miss, but if you simply want to smile and laugh and feel better about the world, "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" fits the bill.
Bicentennial Man (1999)
Unspeakable
As far as I am concerned, there is no excuse for a movie like this. Neither the director nor the actors lack talent, and yet what a miserable film they have managed to concoct! I can see why some people might like "Bicentennial Man," but I was infuriated by the absence of any shred of subtlety or shame in the relentless succession of "heartwarming" scenes the film forced me to endure. I hated "Bicentennial Man" even worse than "Patch Adams", and that is really saying a lot.
Moulin Rouge! (2001)
But if you're open...
This is a very unusual film, and certainly one that that many viewers will not even watch all the way through. It is also a shocking film, but not in the sense the word is generally used. There is very little in the way of explicit sex or violence, and the humor, while a far cry from the standard Hollywood fare, does not attempt to push the envelope of bad taste. Moulin Rouge! is shocking in that every aspect of its design, from the over-the-top acting, to the frenetic editing, to the lavish sets and the unconventional manner of telling the the story, is a spectacular departure from conventional filmaking. This is why so many people dislike it, but also why, for those who do enjoy it, repeated viewings are so rewarding. The more comfortable one becomes with the film, the better it seems. For my part, I was not sure what to think of Moulin Rouge! the first time I saw it, but I liked it enough to see it again, and I have seen it several times since. It is true that it is not for everyone, but I would encourage just about anyone to see it at least once. To use the words of the movie's male lead, played by Ewan McGregor, Moulin Rouge! "is very modern... and may feel a bit strange at first. But if you're open, I think you might enjoy it."
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
A Generally Excellent Film
While perhaps not the best movie of the year, and certainly inferior to Peter Jackson's earlier film, Heavenly Creatures, The Fellowship of the Ring is nevertheless an impressive film. I have met very few people who find it perfect, but I also don't know anyone who actually claimed to dislike it. For the most part, its virtues are hard to deny. The spectacular set pieces such as the pursuit of Arwen and Frodo by the Nine Riders or the concluding battle between Boromir and Sauruman's orcs are such that very few viewers could remain unmoved. I find it difficult to explain why, despite these scenes, I did not like the film more. I only know that the friends and family members with whom I have discussed it share my feelings to one extent or another. Perhaps Tolkien's book should not have been made into a film. Even so, it is worth seeing for the spectacular visuals alone.
Fear Runs Silent (2000)
Surprisingly Effective Horror
I am almost embarrassed to admit it, but I have to say that for the most part I really liked "Fear Runs Silent". While I agree that the storyline was confusing and incoherent, this did not make me enjoy it any less. The writer/director has an undeniable talent for this sort of thing, and I was suprised by how frightening this strange film really was. It goes without saying that this sort of thing is not for everyone, and anyone who goes looking for explicit violence or a typical horror-movie ending will be disappointed. Nevertheless, "Fear Runs Silent" manages to deliver much more in terms of atmosphere, suspense, and sheer creepiness than many better funded films, such as the recent "Thirteen Ghosts".