djmoff Reviews

Beyond the Sea (2004)

could a movie be more ridiculous?

[5/10 · 6 February 2006]

I couldn't believe how poor this movie turned out to be. I grew up in the Bobby Darin era and really looked forward to it. I happen to be a huge fan of musicals and of course, looked forward to hearing the songs again.Even with Kevin doing an admirable job on the many hits, I can't in all conscience find much good to say about the end product.

During the credits, my wife and I were really impressed with the cast but what a waste of so many talented people. I can't believe so many actors could "overact" in one movie. Every character was like a caricature rather than a real person. The big quarrel scene between Bobby and Sandra was so over the top that we both actually laughed.I suppose one could blame the writers or perhaps the director but then we know who filled those shoes too, don't we? We have enjoyed Kevin Spacey in most of his previous movies but he was way too pretentious in this effort. Writing and producing and directing and even doing the singing !!!! Shouldn't be.."look at me, I'm Sandra Dee" but rather "Look at me, I'm Kevin Spacey"!

Sex Traffic (2004)

extremely realistic

[9/10 · 16 September 2005]

this movie is one of the best made for TV movies that I've ever seen. Don't know whether it was due to the cast or just the topic.It was too realistic for my wife. She had to leave the room when the lead actress was raped. Wendy Crewson as always and the newcomer Anamaria Marinca are incredible talents.The director has chosen just the right lighting and location sets to add to the dark mood required to reinforce just how seedy this business is. I realize that this was partly a Canadian production but it detracted from the storyline to see distinguished and easily identifiable Canadians playing Americans. I'm referring to such notables as Len Cariou and Maury Chaykin. I realize that this may seem a bit strange that I'm not complaining about Ms Crewson as well but she's played Americans in so many movies (notably the President's wife in one) that I had no problem with her although I would have preferred her to be a Canadian too. I still don't understand why in their hope to be seen in the U.S., movie makers feel that Americans will only identify with themselves. American movie goers are much brighter than other countries give them credit for.

The Village (2004)

previews misrepresented the movie

[3/10 · 6 September 2005]

My wife and I somehow endured the whole boring movie The Village. We feel that the previews misrepresented the end result and that viewers should be warned. We had seen the previews and had rented the movie expecting to see a horror movie. Instead we got a character study where nothing really happens. Besides that there are too many occurrences that ask the viewer to accept unreasonable possibilities.We are expected to believe that the blind heroine Ivy would be able to make her way through a forest, climb a barrier and then luck into finding a sympathetic ranger on the other side. Not just a sympathetic one but one who just happens to have access to the drugs that she needs. He gets them without question? Come on, how real is that? Of course, the hero, played by a sullen Joaquin Phoenixis is somehow able to survive the multiple stab wounds and resulting infection incurred from Adrian Brody until she returns. Amazingly the blind Ivy has no problem finding her way back to the village that no other person has found in years. I was willing to concede that a town could have been like this eons ago but with the SUV/TV scenes, we all know that such a town could not happen in this day and age. I guess the village was in a no fly zone as well. The fact that there really are no monsters in the woods and the town elders continue the facade at the end of the movie is mind numbing as well. The other shame of this movie is that former Oscar winners are wasted in such a boring misleading movie.

The Killing Secret (1997 TV Movie)

was this really done in 1997?

[7/10 · 31 August 2005]

I enjoyed the movie even though I found it fairly predictable. The ineffectiveness of the police force seemed a little hard to believe. Ari is excellent in her role as the concerned "rich girl" with the handsome, jock boyfriend. The rest of the cast, especially Tess Harper who plays Soleil Moon Frye's grief-stricken but feisty mother are totally believable. I do find it hard to believe that Ari who was born in 1969 could still be playing a high school senior in 1997 (although she certainly looks the part). Was this movie made years earlier perhaps and held back from the public for some reason? Anyone know the answer?