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jymcgr
Reviews
The Passion of the Christ (2004)
The Passion - unsolicited review
By my most conservative estimate I have seen 2500+ movies in my lifetime. Among those I have seen some of the best and some of the worst movies ever made. In all of them I have never seen anything that matches the power and the magnitude of Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ." For years the church has been asking how to reach a generation of people who are numb to the world around them, this movie is a step in the right direction. The showing we attended had people of all ages and walks of life. Among the crowd I heard gasps and audible sobbing as the story of Christ's passion unfolded on the screen. The images were intense and raw. The emotion of the story was accented by the savage brutality of the punishment received at the hands of the sinners he came to save, the crushing weight of the cross he carried, and the love that never left his eyes for a moment. All of this is compounded when you realize that as hard as this movie is to watch, it is still only a movie and the real life events that inspired it must have been more than most could bear to see. I was touched by the movie in a way that I can not describe. I have fallen in love with my Savior all over again. I hope that you will make time to see it. You will not regret it.
Christmas Vacation 2: Cousin Eddie's Island Adventure (2003)
Oh My God!!!
Why oh why did they have to try and make a sequel to one of the greatest Christmas movies of all time. The movie is a train wreck on every level and should have never been made. Randy Quaid's portrayal of cousin Eddie is an over the top caricature of his previous outings as cousin Eddie. Also, the Eddie character is not interesting enough to carry an entire movie. Even "eye candy" Sung Hi Lee could not redeem this hunk of holiday crap. Please do not waste your time on this move, just watch the original again.
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
A Perfect Finish.
I just came from "The Return of the King" and aside from being emotionally drained, I am thrilled with this final installment. Unlike the tepid finish of "The Matrix" trilogy, this series of movies go out with the same force it came in with. Jackson's work, no matter what the rest of his career yields, will be his capstone achievement and one that place him in the movie directors hall of fame. For all of the fussing and complaining about the length of this movie, I was happy with it. I thought the movie was as long as it needed to be and I personally never wanted it to end. Thank you Peter Jackson.
The Dish (2000)
Wonderfully Pleasant Movie
I am a die-hard movie buff and I had never heard of this movie until my brother brought it to Thanksgiving. After watching it I was very pleased. A very fun movie with a great story and a delightfully quirky cast. The movie is worth watching just for Rudi, the security guard. Enjoy.
John Q (2002)
Too Much Drama....
John Q is a very well made and touching film about a man trying to save his son's life. Denzel Washington is the cornerstone of the movie. Denzel's son needs a heart transplant and has lost his heath insurance, so takes the law into his own hands to save his son. One of the highlights of this movie is the always enjoyable Eddie Griffen as one of the hostages. Griifen is not his usual slapstick self in this movie, but just funny enough that the movie stays serious without being depressing. Very much worth the time, but very emotional. Be ready.
The Cat in the Hat (2003)
Weak, Weak, Weak
Saw this movie today with my kids and I did NOT love it. The movie was well made and the sets nearly perfect, but the story was weak and the acting was poor (except for the always delightful, Dakota Fanning). Mike Myers walked through the entire movie doing an impersonation of The Cowardly Lion from "The Wizard of OZ." I still have not figured out why Alec Baldwin was in the movie (maybe he owed someone a favor)and Shawn Hayes character made mo sense whatsoever (what was up with the hand sanitizer). This movie had the potential to be a classic, but fell far short. If you saw the trailer, you have seen all of the best parts. Don't waste your time with this movie, buy your kid's the "Finding Nemo" DVD instead.
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003)
A great Adventure
I just came from the theatre after watching "Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World." This is a good movie. When I first saw the press about it was not overly enthusiastic, but a show on the History channel about the movie's accuracy peaked my interest. Russell Crowe was perfect as Capt. Aubrey and the plot is a good, old-fashioned chase on the high seas. Peter Weir's direction was flawless (Of course) and the supporting cast was impeccable. I highly recommend a trip to the theatre for this one, DVD just won't do.
Open Range (2003)
Excellent!!
Kevin Costner is back doing what he does best. Open Range in a wonderful movie and Robert Duvall is at his best. Good Story, stunning visuals and a nearly perfect supporting cast. I am glad to see Costner directing again.
Equilibrium (2002)
A Very Pleasant Surprise.
I am still wondering how this managed to get to the screen without me hearing one word about it. I first heard of this film when I watched the preview online about 3 days before it hit theaters. I finally got around to seeing it today and was very impressed. I am a big fan of George Orwell and Ray Bradbury and this movie is a tribute to both of their works, while still managing to be original. I was very impressed with Christian Bale in this film, and Taye Diggs was the best I have seen him. I know there are a lot of movie choices out there this time of year, but don't let this one slip by.
Punch-Drunk Love (2002)
Truly Awful Film!!
I just finished watching this movie and I can only say that I am glad I didn't pay anything for this film. This was the worst film I have seen in years. After all of the hype I was expecting to at least enjoy this film.
I am convinced that all of the people who are raving about this film are just to afraid to say that it didn't make any sense, so they adopt a pseudo-intellectual position on the film. Well I can say with complete confidence that this film is garbage. Please don't waste your time.
I will say that in spite of the plot-less story and wooden performances, Emily Watson is one of the most enjoyable actress working in film today. It takes a true talent to shine in a movie that sucks the life out of its audience.
Dinotopia (2002)
What A Waste!!!
This was the most disappointing Mini-series "event" I have ever suffered through. The dialogue was forced, The acting was soap-opera quality and the actors all looked bored. The only that was good was the computer graphics, but bot good enough to carry us along for 6 hours.