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Reviews
Lolita (1997)
Beautiful, Dull, with No Bite
This is certainly a beautiful-looking film, but the tone was completely wrong. "Lolita" is not a bittersweet, sentimental look at a "love affair" between two people, but a pointed satire about desire, self-deception (and deception of others), sex, "middle-brow" American culture, etc. It's an edgy story; Humbert is neurotic and nervous and hysterically funny -- not gentle and doe-eyed, as the movie portrays him. The Kubrick version comes closer to the "real thing", but is still lacking. Read the book, if you haven't already. And don't expect much from this movie except a beautifully photographed, sentimental story that bears only a pale resemble to the dark irony that is the novel.
Lost in Space (1998)
So Bad I Couldn't Sleep
William Hurt and Mimi Rogers are two of the most wooden actors, as is only too apparent in this film. The script, plot, dialogue were all awful -- silly and contrived. The effects were okay, except for that amazingly phony monkey thing. Worst of all, there was no sense that anyone was enjoying themselves in making this movie. They could have gone over the top, had some fun with the idea of re-making what was a pretty cheesy show in its original form, but they were all stone-faced and serious. I can't believe 80 million was spent on this tripe. I bemoan the current trend of movies that use expensive, intricate special effects with no good writing to back it up. The whole industry is cheapened. There are too many technicians and too few artists working in (mainstream) Hollywood, it seems...please, save those two hours of your life and do something worthwhile! Time is spinning away even while you read this! Get off the web! Go outside! Breathe the air! Bite the ass of life! And don't watch this movie!
All About Eve (1950)
When They Used to Make Comedies for Grown-Ups
Where have all the interesting parts for women gone? Even as feminism has made its mark on contemporary society, roles that women can really bite into have dwindled. Generally speaking, the current era is focused almost exclusively on youth and looks, not on wit and intelligence. Hence, sad to say, there is no current analog for Bette Davis. This movie is funny (as well as serious), intelligent, and sexy and holds up to several viewings. Bette looks stunning. The scenes between the men and the women seem like real adults interacting, not cutesy couples playing at love. The script and cast are terrific. Marilyn Monroe makes her first (I believe) appearance in film in that ditzy-yet-endearing comedic acting that became so familiar. I hope to God this film is never remade.