The *idea* was sound, but the plot needed much more work. It looked like an author's rough sketch transformed into a film. There were some clear "main" ideas, ideas that were surrounded by sketches that sometimes worked, sometimes confused, and sometimes flopped. Such as the neighbor boy. He lives "just up the road", but it is six months before he comes to meet the dogs--dogs that he has been dying to see. I *think* it's six months, the dogs start out as pups in the spring and are grown up by the fall, and the boy meets the dogs when they are adults. Then there's the love scene at the high school(?). He was supposed to pick her up "on Saturday night." Judging from the activities between that scene and the love scene, much more time has passed than just a few days! The movie is full of such gaffs. What this movie desperatly needed was an experienced writer that could take the main ideas and work them into something more cohesive, something that could project more emotion into the story. As it is, you don't feel much for the people and dogs because you are too busy trying to make the movie make more sence. An editor who had some experience would have helped too, part of the movie's problems were due to bad editing. There were a couple of quick scenes that made no sence whatsoever, as if there was something removed but not completely. A re-make would be welcome.
Reviews
8 Reviews
Fantasia 2000
(1999)
A disgusting exhibit of retro-animation.
25 November 2000
The night before I rented Fantasia, I watched a PBS special about Chuck Jones, the very busy animator for Warner Brothers. In this special, it was noted that his earliest work was considered too "Disney-ish" and he had to change the looks of his characters. Funny thing: the George Gershwin section of Fantasia 2000 looks *exactly* like a Chuck Jones animation from the 1960s!! What gives?
Who let Steve Martin in? I was terrified that he was going to be the one and only "narrator". Fortunately, the world was spared such a disaster!
A couple other sections were also retro, but not the Apprentice. That one is in a class by itself because it has more color, more dramatic shading than most American animators use today. It was made in a time where the artists could be artists and paint still by still. Time and cost restraints were not yet the great hobblers of talent. What a shame. What have we lost? Maybe there's hope: The Steadfast Tin Soldier was the closest thing to that old masterpiece on the entire film. More, sirs, more of that kind of work!!! Leave that retro stuff alone!!
Who let Steve Martin in? I was terrified that he was going to be the one and only "narrator". Fortunately, the world was spared such a disaster!
A couple other sections were also retro, but not the Apprentice. That one is in a class by itself because it has more color, more dramatic shading than most American animators use today. It was made in a time where the artists could be artists and paint still by still. Time and cost restraints were not yet the great hobblers of talent. What a shame. What have we lost? Maybe there's hope: The Steadfast Tin Soldier was the closest thing to that old masterpiece on the entire film. More, sirs, more of that kind of work!!! Leave that retro stuff alone!!
Space Cowboys
(2000)
A fun summer flick!
6 August 2000
There were lots of factual errors and gaffs aplenty, such as the on-and-off gravity inside the shuttlecraft once it got into space. But if you can put this kind of stuff aside and just enjoy a film, then I recommend it as a go-see. The medical examinations of the foursome is hilarious, especially the eye exam. There was one scene that reminded me of Slim Pickens, who was in a simular position in another movie. There was darkness at the end, but also hope. I can envision another moonshot occuring, just to make *sure*....'nuff said. See it! Enjoy!!
Mission to Mars
(2000)
A high school drama team could have saved this film!
12 March 2000
I say that because the lines are delivered with so little emotion that the actors sounded like they were reading them off a TelePromTer. A high school drama team would at least produce tears when a loved one dies horribly and would have shouted with joy when the marooned man is found still alive. Instead, the reactions are almost clinical disinterest.
I have a problem with what happened when they got to Mars. No one rebuilt the radio. This was most strange, as that is the first thing that one normally does after a disaster--one calls home to let them know that everything's ok or whatever. Instead, they goofed around with the artifact.
I thought that the alien was the wrong kind of alien. The first major lifeforms on Earth were dinosaurs and birds. This kind of life continued until an asteroid trashed the environment about 60 million years ago, allowing mammals to arise and become the dominate life forms on Earth. Why was the alien a mammaloid? It should have been reptilian!
I enjoyed the scenery, it was the best view of Mars ever to hit the screens, I think. Other reviewers have advised to wait until the movie hits the DVD or VHS format, but I recommend that you see it on the big screen at least one time to get the entire view. It is spectacular!
I have a problem with what happened when they got to Mars. No one rebuilt the radio. This was most strange, as that is the first thing that one normally does after a disaster--one calls home to let them know that everything's ok or whatever. Instead, they goofed around with the artifact.
I thought that the alien was the wrong kind of alien. The first major lifeforms on Earth were dinosaurs and birds. This kind of life continued until an asteroid trashed the environment about 60 million years ago, allowing mammals to arise and become the dominate life forms on Earth. Why was the alien a mammaloid? It should have been reptilian!
I enjoyed the scenery, it was the best view of Mars ever to hit the screens, I think. Other reviewers have advised to wait until the movie hits the DVD or VHS format, but I recommend that you see it on the big screen at least one time to get the entire view. It is spectacular!
Volcano
(1997)
Hello, USGS? Why are the tar pits boiling??
12 February 2000
I started laughing long before the volcano made itself known by erupting in the tar pits. I wondered if the people who wrote this silly disaster flick had ever seen a documentary movie where geologists were monitoring quakes along the San Andreas Fault. Surely, there would be at least a squadron of geologists from the USGS (United States Geology Service) poking around those pits with various devices if they ever really did start to boil, but in this film, there was only *one* and she didn't
know what was up until it was almost too late. How did she pass geology school? But never mind, this was just a good summertime movie; one to check your brains at the door when you go inside the theater. I had the most fun jeering at this thing when they started putting up the cement barriers to "stop" the lava. NOT! Rent this if you want something really clueless to watch!
know what was up until it was almost too late. How did she pass geology school? But never mind, this was just a good summertime movie; one to check your brains at the door when you go inside the theater. I had the most fun jeering at this thing when they started putting up the cement barriers to "stop" the lava. NOT! Rent this if you want something really clueless to watch!
The Red Violin
(1998)
This movie needed to be advertized more!
27 September 1999
I've read some negative reviews, but I have to wonder: if it is so bad, why has it been running for more than a month in a cineplex that rolls movies over in a hurry when they don't make the cut?
It is because this film is one of those "sleepers" that no one hears about until the Oscar Awards come out and then everybody wants to run out and see it. People are telling other people to see it and they are. Too bad this beautiful film has to rely on the grapevine like this. If they had been able to advertize, I think it would be a much bigger hit.
Go see this movie! It's worth the trip! I could go on about what it is about, but other people have covered the basics very well on this site. Be warned though: The English lord has some weird sexual tastes, and the creation of the violin's red color is stomach churning. But the rest of the film is magnifico! Don't miss!!
It is because this film is one of those "sleepers" that no one hears about until the Oscar Awards come out and then everybody wants to run out and see it. People are telling other people to see it and they are. Too bad this beautiful film has to rely on the grapevine like this. If they had been able to advertize, I think it would be a much bigger hit.
Go see this movie! It's worth the trip! I could go on about what it is about, but other people have covered the basics very well on this site. Be warned though: The English lord has some weird sexual tastes, and the creation of the violin's red color is stomach churning. But the rest of the film is magnifico! Don't miss!!
My Man Godfrey
(1957)
A good light comedy
19 August 1999
If you are looking for something to watch that is a bit silly, but isn't terribly demanding, then this is for you. It is fit for the whole family, which can't be said for many of today's comedies. Something to watch for: Godfrey's tv set. You see it maybe four times. The first few times, the screen is blue and looks fake. Then, just before he turns it on, it has a grey screen. Hmmm.
Arsenic and Old Lace
(1944)
CHARGE!!!!! Into laughter!!
19 August 1999
This is one movie that should be seen at least once by everyone. It proves, once and for all that a big, humongus budget is *not nessesary* to make a good movie!! Cary plays the best strait man that I've ever seen when he discovers just what is going on in his aunt's house. (yikes!) And then his long lost brother shows up with evil intents! The poor little guy, all he wanted to do was to leave. As for Teddy--Charge!! down to your video store--this one shouldn't be missed!
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