SrCharls Reviews

The Human Experience (2008)

Unfocused And Riddled With Clichés

[3/10 · 25 February 2012]

I can't really add much to the (bad) reviews above. However, I am numb from being lambasted by this film's pretension and utter lack of focus. I felt manipulated.

As far as I can tell the movie's theme is: We should have a purpose in life and everybody has something good about them. I don't need to hear an endless parade of platitudes and clichés to get the point. As far as I can tell, there is nothing to learn in this film other than bad things happen to "innocent" people.

I could also do without the violin music.

On the other hand, I enjoyed the photography.

If you are the kind of person who enjoys "inspiring" films that don't make you think, then this one is for you.

Voices of Sarafina! (1988)

Energetic But Not Much of a Film

[6/10 · 6 January 2000]

I feel terrible for not endorsing this movie. The cast of Sarafina, who are the stars of this film, are a talented, dedicated, committed group of youngsters. There is a lot of energy expended as they try to communicate life under Apartheid in South Africa.

However, there is little structure to the film and, after a while, the scenes seem repetitive. Enchanted at first, I started falling asleep after about 45 minutes. Others may enjoy it for its sheer human energy, but as film it is lacking.

Rhapsody in Bloom (1998 TV Movie)

Pedestrian at Best

[6/10 · 14 August 1999]

This movie was predictable from beginning to end. My wife and I had fun only because guessed every scene before it happened. I'll grant that Penelope Ann Miller was good but was it necessary to accentuate her cleavage to the maximum extent possible?

The Bodyguard (1992)

Music v. Movie

[4/10 · 30 December 1998]

If acting is just looking pretty for the camera then I guess Whitney can sure sing.

Costner is lost. He doesn't know what to do in this movie.

And the movie never rises above the obvious. What a waste.

Pocket Money (1972)

A Confused Movie

[30 October 1998]

Throughout this thoroughly confused movie, I kept waiting for the point to become clear. Is it an innocent cowboy against the the corrupt cattle barons movie? Is it a buddy movie? A character study? What's the point?

Paul Newman seems to be playing a slightly retarded rancher, with an accent that is neither consistent nor believable. Lee Marvin plays the only character that is at least interesting, even though it's not at all clear just what his purpose in the movie is. Strother Martin is just painful to watch.

Mexicans may want to avoid this movie. It contains enough slurs to keep the producers in law suits for a decade if it had been produced in the more politically correct 90's.

It was a struggle to stay awake through this movie. I sure hope the book was better.