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Reviews
The Langoliers (1995)
Lots of Potential, Lots of Drama, Two Separate Stories, Stupid Ending
I do hope the book is better than the movie because while the movie created a certain amount of drama that built to a climax it fell flat on its face with the 'trip back' and especially the ending.
One could overlook the poor special effects, but skipping down the sidewalk at the end? And someone please tell me what did the Craig Toomey character have to do with anything and why did 'they' need him? I was really, really disappointed. I'm not a Steven King fan under any circumstances, but the title intrigued me and the first 2/3's of the movie was great. Too bad it ended so poorly. Good acting led to melodramatic kitsch and made the poor special effects worse.
Boo, hiss.
Lost (2004)
Similar to a Modern Day Lord of the Rings With More Mystery
I can't give you a reason why I didn't watch the first season as it unfolded on TV - other than as a rule TV sucks beyond description - no more than I can give you a reason why I decided to rent the DVD's and watch them over a period of 2 days during the holidays. Suffice it to say, I was hooked and the Blockbuster people would duck when they saw me come through the door over a 48 hour period.
So, now I have to say that regardless of how sometimes the events stretch credibility to new proportions, e.g., Jack being able to grab onto the tree roots when he fell without dislocating his shoulder, arm, elbow wrist, et.al. this is an awesome adventure. My reference to LOTR is because I didn't want to watch it either, did and bought the DVD's.
There is NOTHING wrong with this show because it does what it sets out to do and that is keep you on the edge of your seat, keep you guessing and keep you from getting up to get a beverage, snack, answer the phone, pee, let the dogs out to pee, get out the house just for some fresh air, etc.
Watch "Lost". Period. End of sentence. I think what got me are the ways that people kept crossing paths. Did anyone notice when Jin first visited the guy he later beat to a pulp that on the TV his daughter was watching in the background was Hurley? Check it out.
Yes, I know - another way the credibility is stretched, but, in fact, I met a guy from my hometown (Pontiac, MI) on the train into Tokyo, have had the daughters of two guys I went to H.S. with in a class I teach, met Gloria Swanson at the University of Tampa where I was a student, ran into a guy that I hadn't seen in almost 40 years and recognized him and once had sex with the 10th ranked lady wrestler in the world (1972) back when they did that sort of thing. The wrestler has nothing to do with coincidence or credibility. I just wanted to tell everyone. It's my one claim to fame and yes, she was good. Very good.
I can't say strongly enough. Watch "Lost". You will not be disappointed. If you are, watch cartoons.
Hostage (2005)
How To Turn A Good Book Into A Bad Movie
Robert Crais writes a really good book with some interesting plot twists and turns and Hollywood screws it up. While trying to play it "dark" the whole movie passes on the subtleties that make for great drama and instead beats you over the head. And so at the end, the bad guys are really . . . ? Oh, that's right, we never really know. You have to read the book to find out and even then because it is so screwed up . . . Never mind. Just skip the movie altogether. It isn't worth it. Read the book.
Individually, the acting isn't bad, but Ben Foster as a serial killer? Puhleeze. He mumbles through about 30 words of dialogue that doesn't make any sense and doesn't tell you anything about him.
A shame. Had the makings of a pretty good flick if they had managed to stick a little closer to the book.
Air Force (1943)
A Great Movie
Great is over used a lot of times to describe something pretty good or even mediocre, but I think this movie, taken in context, IS great. I didn't see the racism that Sargebri@earthlink.net saw, but after all the movie was made in 1943, we were at war with Japan and since they started it, it is understandable that our attitude toward them was pretty edgy.
I always look at characters and the kinds of feelings they create and whether a movie can develop a mood. I think the characters and the mood in "Air Force" do that very well. It shows what a downer war really is (it doesn't make any difference if you are right or wrong)and how much people lose during war. It also emphasizes the futility of it all sometimes when you know you're going to die, but you are willing to do your job anyway. Have to hand it to those guys at Wake Island.
I saw this movie for the first time way back in the 50's and had the pleasure of seeing it again recently. It's STILL a great movie. James Brown who was Tex Raider the pursuit pilot (played Lt. Rip Masters on the TV show Rin Tin Tin) and John Garfield who was Joe Winocki are my favorite characters but like Sargebri it was a hoot to see George Tobias as a young man.