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MitchHellman
Reviews
Stingray (1986)
Surprisingly Mature
One of the things I admired about the show was the quality of the scripts. Not only did the plots vary considerably as to genre (mystery, science fiction, crime drama, psychological drama) but there appeared to be a concerted effort to explore different writing styles and devices.
For example: I recall one episode that was a 'Mission Impossible'-style caper with a unique twist-- the first half of the show was how the caper was SUPPOSED to come off, while the second half was how disastrously wrong it (nearly) turned out. Another show featured a mystery writer who appeared to write what was happening to Ray as it was happening-- that Ray's actions and the plot were under the writer's control, not Ray's.
Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003)
Thankfully NOT a blockbuster movie (some spoilers)
Compared to some of the other movies released this summer (such as Matrix Reloaded and The Hulk) the hype machine was not running full-bore for T3, in my opinion. As a result, I found myself more able to appreciate the movie's strengths without much in the way of pre-conceived notions getting in the way.
Rather than a total deconstruction of T3, I'd rather just mention what I liked about it:
1. First and foremost-- the ending. I was worried that T3 would continue with the plot point established in the first two Terminator movies: that the Terminator was sent through time to prevent the awful future from taking place. Not only was this done to death in the others in the series, but was the whole point behind the Back to the Future trilogy (only the result in that series was much more clever). It was a welcome change to see this dealt with in a different way, one that echoes some of the essential pessimism of T2.
2. While in general I agree with other comments in this forum that the portrayal of the T-X lacked some of the feeling of menace of Robert Patrick's performance in T2, Kristanna Loken managed to capture and reproduce many of Patrick's mannerisms: the sideways tilt of the head, the eyes looking upward while the head was lowered, etc. It gave me the impression that they both were programmed with the same instruction set.
3. With the exception of the pneumatic breast scene (which was basically there for laughs), the T-X did NOT infiltrate and further her goals by means of sexuality-- a departure from most SF movies featuring superhuman females.
4. Though there was a different director and Linda Hamilton did not appear, I felt that there was a strong effort made to keep the story consistent with the rest of the Terminator mythos. For example: the tank-like machines that were activated by the Terminatrix also appeared in one or more of the Terminator video games that have been made over the years since T2. I appreciate this attention to detail.
All in all, I got my money's worth. It was entertaining but was (blessedly) not a huge, overblown megablockbuster movie.
Loud, though.
Kiss of Death (1995)
Nasty, brutal, menacing-- I liked it!
Believe it or not, there are those of us who have ignored the sniping and backbiting heard in the press about David Caruso's career/ego/talent and appreciate him for what he does best: radiate quiet determination and scary resolve. Caruso's character doesn't even have to raise his voice to convince you that he'll do anything to protect his own and get revenge on those who cross him.
There's lots to like about this movie; the cast alone is impressive: Caruso, a fine not-too-over-the-top job by Nicolas Cage, Samuel L. Jackson acting spiteful, Helen Hunt trying to stay alive, Ving Rhames looking evil as ever, and a pre-"Murder One" Stanley Tucci as oily as can be.
Warning: this movie is violent in an up-close-and-personal way, not like the average shoot-'em-up.
The Matrix (1999)
Plot? We don't need no stinking plot!
Hackneyed, muddy plot. Fishburne is reduced to spouting Zen platitudes and comments about the Net as poorly-reasoned as Al Gore's recent gaffes. The film is basically an excuse for the special effects, and the best that can be said for Keanu Reeves is that he wasn't any worse than the character he played in "Johnny Mnemonic" (or is that "Moronic"?)
The Impostors (1998)
Think of it as a Laurel & Hardy film for the 90's. Even the two co-stars are named Stan(ley Tucci) and Oliver (Platt).
Mixing sophisticated comedy with some old-time slapstick, Stanley Tucci (who also produced and directed this film) and Oliver Platt work well together as two out-of-work actors who wind up on board an ocean liner filled with unusual characters and secret plots. Wackiness ensues. A cast of familiar faces includes Lily Taylor, Isabella Rosselini, Steve Buscemi and a cameo appearance by Woody Allen.