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Reviews
Bombay Talkie (1970)
One of the worst films of all time
Sorry, I love most Merchant-Ivory films, but this was truly agonizing to watch. I only watched it all the way through because I kept thinking it had to get better...but it never did. Also, on the DVD version that I watched the sound quality was horrible. It sounded as if it were recorded on a Fisher-Price tape recorder.
One thing I dislike in films is when the main characters are not at all sympathetic. Unfortunately, that's another of this films shortcomings. The three main characters are all self-obsessed, self pitying wretches, and the dialog they have been given by the screenwriter (whom I also usually adore) is simply pathetic.
By the time I got to the end of the film, I was praying that they wouldn't give in to the urge to end the film with the trite senseless killing that they telegraphed earlier with close-ups of the murder weapon; but they did. Another disappointment.
Even if you've set yourself a goal of watching all of James Ivory's films, you may guiltlessly excuse yourself from this one. It's just not up to his usual standards.
Wo hu cang long (2000)
Wow, it took my breath away
Crouching Tiger has it all, love, adventure, philosophy, values, beauty, action, mysticism, I could go on and on. This film should finally put many peoples aversion to subtitles to rest. You can watch it over and over again and appreciate it on a different level at each viewing. I can't wait for the extras on the DVD. Don't miss it.
Pay It Forward (2000)
Like the proverbial Chinese meal, the film left me hungry an hour later
I had such high hopes for this film, but despite stellar performances from the leading actors, the film ultimately disappoints. You'll laugh, you'll cry, but then you'll wonder why. Why were there not more scenes of folks paying it forward? Why did the film spend so much time on the romance between Kevin Spacey and Helen Hunt, and so little time laying the necessary ground work so that we could believe in the ending? There was a good story here, but it got lost in filmmakers attempts to win Oscars for Spacey and/or Hunt. Too bad. That said, it's still worth catching on video.
Bounce (2000)
Paltrow's perfect, Affleck's (not quite) awful
Let me quickly add that Ben Affleck is not awful, he just doesn't belong in the same dramatic moment with Gwyneth Paltrow. She's so good, and appears so natural, that everything he tries looks like acting by comparison. He can really wrinkle his brow an amazing number of ways, though. In some other film, with some lesser actress, he'd probably seem pretty good (maybe). But not here. I liked the film, even with the predictable Hollywood ending. (I don't think it's possible to give away this ending -- it's telegraphed from the beginning of the film.) Just don't go expecting anything other than a light romantic comedy starring two really great looking people, one of whom can act much more skillfully than the other.
The Black Rose (1950)
One of my favorite movies from my childhood
A fine classic adventure story with a beautiful and exotic heroine. When I was a boy, I fell in love with Cecile Aubrey. I watched this film whenever it was shown on TV, and that was in the days of black and white. I didn't even know the movie was filmed in color. The characters and story line will hold your interest from first to last. Catch it if you can.