Reviews
13 Going on 30 (2004)
Cute movie - nice light touch
What I most enjoyed about this movie...besides Jennifer Garner's excellent take on being 13, was the light touch.
Sure the stereotypes were there, as was the long "falling in love" montage, but none of it became too sticky sweet or over the top. Jennifer Garner's reactions to waking up in a 30 year old body made sense...and the sight gags were kept to a minimum despite the easy premise for them.
Over all I thought the movie stuck a great balance between simple nostalgic fun and a slightly deeper look at opportunity and love lost. Lots of fun!
Veronica Mars (2004)
Excellent - Not your average UPN show
The story of Veronica and her search for the truth in the spoiled and famous Nepture is far more compelling that your average UPN teen drama.
Real characters, complex situations and issues and topics beyond who is hooking up with whom. The detailed story arc might make it a bit challenging for new viewers to pick up the threads, but each episode stands alone.
Like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Veronica Mars mixes, humour and pathos, into both complicated life and death issues and high school life. Just as Buffy was about more than surviving high school with a social life, Veronica Mars looks at real things with a sceptical eye and an ironic twist.
The Transporter (2002)
Tongue in Cheek action
This movie wants to be a blockbuster action flick but doesn't quite hit the mark. The best part of the film is the slightly sardonic way that the main character, Frank reacts before he fights. Despite the fact that he is a criminal, we are supposed to believe that Frank really would prefer a quiet life polishing his beloved Mercedes and that he gets dragged into fighting and car chases almost against his will. I found this amusing. I also enjoyed the novel "oil slick" fighting and the other fight scenes in close quarters.
What I hated most was the contrived way Frank and the leading lady fall into the sack. If beautiful women immediately had sex with every unassuming guy who could fight, men everywhere would be lining up for martial arts lessons. Of course, without beautiful women having sex with sweaty heros, where would the action genre be?
It was a fun movie and as a woman I found the fight scenes unique enough and humorous enough to sit through with my hubby. The thin plot was predictable, but at the same time it was comfortable movie to watch and over all I enjoyed it.
The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
A beautiful and inspirational film
This film is a beautiful story about what faith and hope and passion are about. The struggle between the desire for something more and the resignation about your lot in life. On many levels this film challenges you to both seize the day and overcome fear and limitations about yourself. All without a preach-y tone or a moralistic attitude and with lots of interesting characters and action. This movie also offers insight into the truth that can be found in a real friendship.
I highly recommend this movie to anyone.
The Spitfire Grill (1996)
A beautifully touching movie.
This movie is a wonderful example of how character and plot come together. You get the sense that all the characters have lives that happen even when you aren't watching. A few rather contrived plot points don't mar a good story. A good movie, well worth the time. Have some tissues handy.
Mighty Aphrodite (1995)
Very bad, not funny....
I rented this film because Mira Sorvino won an Oscar for her performance. I generally don't like Woody Allen films, but I thought this one might be different. Not only was the stupid voice Mira used a constant reminder that she was an actor badly playing stupid, but her whole character was totally un-likable. The sex jokes were crude, even by Allen standards and the cut away scenes to the Greek Chorus were neither funny nor important. I felt insulted by this film and didn't laugh once. What a disappointment.