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slnixon
Reviews
The Perfect Storm (2000)
Excellent special effects.
I saw this in the theater and already pre-ordered it on DVD. I found that the acting was good. The actors roles are supposed to reflect a small New England coastal town, although I think some people might be offended by how simplistic the characters are made. The hardship of making ends meet in the fishing industry is well-portrayed.
What really makes the movie is the special effects. You really get the feeling that you are out in the middle of a huge storm with nothing but water and darkness all around.
A definite renter. Buy it if you have a home theater system.
The Fugitive (1993)
Sure to become a classic action movie
Based on the TV series from the 70's, Harrison Ford brings his experience and expert acting to this film. This was also the start of a string of successes for Tommie Lee Jones, first reprising his role as Sam Gerard in US Marshals, then again in Double Jeopardy, which seems loosely based on the same character.
Abducted (1986)
Excellent scenery...Disappointing movie direction
This movie has a lot going for it. The plot is simple: a psychotic mountain man kidnaps a young woman while she is out on her morning jog. The problem is the director came up short. Most of the time, the movie tries to focus in on the intensity and insane look in the kidnapper's eyes. There are also a lot of chase scenes in the Canadian rockies. Not much else.
There are some good points. Dan Haggerty plays the madman's father and does a good acting job, but I kept flashing back to his TV series "Grizzly Adams". I half-expected Ben the bear to come trotting out of the bushes at any time. Roberta Weiss at the start of the movie played the role of the damsel-in-distress rather lamely, however she did seem to improve once the madman's cabin had been reached.
The problem is that this movie was not what you'd come to expect from this genre. The danger of sexual assault was there every time Vern got close. However, for a guy that had been out in the woods for two years without a woman, you'd think he could have gotten past the bra. Give this same script to David Cronenberg and you'd have a successful NC-17 movie and a better ending where the hunted becomes the hunter. As is, it is barely PG and not worth renting.
When it comes on Showtime or TNT, take a look if you like Dan Haggerty, as long as nothing else is on.
Once Were Warriors (1994)
moving drama about rape and wife-battery
A working class mother must deal with an abusive husband, and her daughter's suicide caused by an incestual uncle. Although slow at the beginning, this foreign independent film caught me by surprise in its compelling storyline.
Violence, language, adult subject matter
The Principal (1987)
Worth seeing more than once
A washed-up teacher is offered a principal position, but it is at the worst school in the district. Belushi confronts the school druglord and kingpin as he tries to save the few decent kids that are stuck in this environment. A bit humorous at times, but what do you expect from a James Belushi role? Louis Gossett Jr turns in a decent performance as the school security chief.
Violence, language, adult subject matter
Opposing Force (1986)
GI JANE without the US flag waving
Tom Skeritt provides a surprisingly emotional performance as a military man that has been captured along with his platoon, including a female trainee/friend. When the base commander decides that the war games need to be more realistic and rapes the girl, the team realize that their only hope is to escape. The movie then becomes a kill or be killed hunt.
Violence, brief nudity, adult subject matter, coarse language
Kidnapped (1987)
Rent it if you must...
The mid-80's turned out a series of mediocre movies about women disappearing for different reasons...white slavery, organ harvesting, serial killers. This one doesn't even have these plotlines going for it. Worth seeing only if you want to see David Naughton in a role besides "American Werewolf in London". Otherwise look for "Angel" or "Coma" and you'll get more drama.
Language, brief nudity, drug-use, violence