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jalenn
Reviews
Gunsmoke: Call Me Dodie (1962)
Done before but still a fun diversion
This episode is somewhat reminiscent of "Cotter's Girl", in that it unleashes a rather naive young woman on the poor souls of Dodge, but it adds a dark angle missing from that earlier tale. It's a trademark Kathleen Hite script in that this ep has some heart to it; it's not just another gunslinger whodunit. I always appreciate the light Hite shines on members of the Dodge-at-large society that the show usually glosses over, and here, we get a glimpse of what life might be like for the orphaned girls of the frontier.
Dodie's interactions with the men and women of Dodge are by turns amusing and heartrending, and thoroughly entertaining. One of the better hour long episodes.
The Crow: Stairway to Heaven (1998)
A fun time all too shortlived
The show takes the storyline of the first movie but has Eric remain "alive" in the interests of putting other wrongs right and helping those who cannot help themselves. Cheesy at times but Mark Dacascos' superior physical ability and charisma save the show. I suspect it would have been easy to have focused a great deal on the action part of Eric's character but Dacascos does a great job of giving Eric Draven emotional depth. The three regulars (Gomes, Stuart and Dacascos) have good chemistry and play well off each other. Eric's brief scenes with Shelley stay true to the idea of theirs being a great love, giving the show a good balance of action and romance. It's unfortunate that the show was ended so abruptly; a made-for-tv movie or straight to video release that resolved the issues brought up in the cliffhanger finale to the first season would be appreciated by many fans of the shortlived series.
The Count of Monte Cristo (2002)
And the fun just keeps on coming
I went to this movie to show a little support for Jim Caviezel (loved him in Frequency and damnit, I want the guy to keep making movies) and I stayed for much more. It's not the greatest period piece you'll ever see (I doubt the phrase `You don't get out much, do ya?' was in wide circulation in 1814) but if the occasional bit of nuevo dialogue pains you, take heart: there is some incredible scenery and some pretty impressive swordplay. Walking in, you know it's a tale of vengeance (thank you, oh mighty to the point tagline poster makers) and though CoMC follows the basic progression of most revenge movies - there are few times when you aren't too absorbed in the story to notice. Edmund Dantes, the protagonist is played the talented Jim Caviezel, who seems to have come out of that coma he suffered in Angel Eyes with no ill effects. Caviezel's Edmund is a man who undergoes a slow and deliberate transformation from simple yet principled and charming innocent to a faithless man robbed of everything and returning for nothing less than revenge. It's a marked change and Caviezel plays it so well, you even seem to see the change in his eyes. Guy Pearce is good albeit campy to the max, as the best friend turned betrayer. If I had any complaint it would be with the development of Guy's Count Mondego (or lack thereof)...he's such a sulky a**hole throughout, you wonder why and how he and Edmund were ever friends in the first place. Though to be fair, he does a nice job of occasionally letting you glimpse his inner demon: he knows that for all his worldly goods, he will never be half the man Edmund is. Luis Guzman is great as Edmund's cohort (there's a funny scene in which he offers to take care of all of the recently escaped Edmund's `problems' quickly so they can get on with living like kings with a treasure they find) though you wonder if he just caught a plane out of da Bronx. He is definitely and, at times, hilariously out of place in this one. His thick Bronx accent aside, he infuses some quiet honesty and perspective into a couple of key scenes as Edmund's thirst for revenge seems to get out of hand. Dagmara Dominczyk, as Mercedes the love interest, is lovely but standard, she doesn't do much except serve as another pawn in the chess game between Edmund and Mondego. The movie requires some suspension of disbelief, most of all regarding the fact that no one recognizes Edmund when he returns, despite little change in his outward appearance (he gets a tan and a goatee and they're all completely fooled). A little more action early on wouldn't have killed either - the period spent in jail seemed to go on FOREVER (perhaps intentionally) and even the occasional appearance by Michael Wincott as a sadistic warden and Richard Harris as a fellow convict who gives Edmund an education worthy of a gentleman, does but a little to infuse some life into scenes that tended to drag. Despite these small flaws, Count of Monte Cristo is an engrossing ride of impressive visuals and solid acting. Furthermore, everything I've said aside, it's worth your money just to see Edmund's wonderfully intricate plan for revenge slowly unfold. I caught a matinee on opening day and if I'd paid evening fare, I wouldn't have been upset in the least.
On the Line (2001)
Just 90 minutes of good fun
I went to this movie, like a few others I expect, ready for a good laugh at the expense of some non-actors and pretty much sure it was going to suck dead bunnies through a straw. I left this movie juiced by how wrong my expectations were. It's no Oscar winner by any means, but it's definitely not terrible. I thought it was cute, funny, and basically a great way to just lay back and let my brain relax after midterms. Joey's a natural (though I get the sense that's more a result of the fact he basically plays himself in this movie) and Lance is't atrocious :) Emanuelle and Lance have believable chemistry..a.nd hey, mucho Al Green...what more could you ask?
The Emperor's New Groove (2000)
Most fun I've had with Disney in a while!
I happen to be of the not uncommon opinion that, with the exception of Tarzan and Mulan, Disney's been kinda slumming lately. See Dinosaur (which I saw back when it was called "The Land Before Time"), Hunchback, Pocahontas, etc... But not with this...I. Love. This. Movie. I went to see it on impulse after my final exam of the fall semester and it was the greatest thing, I had a blast. Dragged all my friends the very next day to see it and when I got back home for break I made every one there go see it. This is almost more fun than should be legal for $5 a pop. All the vocal talents are wonderfully cast, especially Eartha Kitt and David Spade...and the trailer does this film little justice, because it's so much more than what they claim it to be. A great comedy, a great buddy film, and certainly not just for the kids. My friends and I walked around quoting this one to each other for MONTHS :) It's a good time, you won't be disappointed.