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AslenPaige
Reviews
V (1984)
The Visitor's Voices - Where'd it go??
I just got my copy of V The Complete Series. I had forgotten about all the 80's make-up and Diana's crazy variations on the standard Visitor uniform. Now don't misunderstand me, I still love anything to do with the Visitors, even down to the ridiculous deus ex machina that is the StarChild. But there is one thing about The Complete Series that aggravates the crap out of me. Suddenly, NONE of the visitors have the strange voice, and I mean none - not even a trace. I have always felt that you can detect the early rumblings of decline of this series about 10 minutes into Final Battle. The Complete Series takes the decay up to quick rot. Martin in plaid flannel and a hunter's vest!? Because NBC(?) wouldn't allow Kenny Johnson to take the time he needed to produce another mini-series that probably would have been fantastic, they took the idea and fobbed it off on less talented, cheaper people.
So....back to my original point- is it just me, or is there simply NO voice? Sorry to be so long winded!
The Mexican (2001)
Superstars make for SuperGarbage
I did not CHOOSE this film. Where I currently live we have a night at the Cinema known as Sneak Preview, where you pay a smaller fee and are then surprised with a not-as-yet released film. The Mexican was my 'surprise'. I had seen the trailers and assumed I would be treated to frolicking hijinks and bad Mexican gags. I was rewarded with at least one! It seems to be the mistake in Hollywood these days that MORE big names make an even bigger, better film. Did they learn nothing from Batman and Robin!? Ok, The Mexican is hardly as bad as B & R, but it DOES disappoint. Brad Pitt and Julia Roberts have about as much chemistry as my fifth grade science project, which I failed. I usually like Julia, and sometimes even enjoy her films. Not this time. In it she is a shrill, shrewish, shallow ballbusting character who made me wish I had earplugs. And Brad Pitt seems to think he is in some alternate Rain Man-Fight Club universe where he plays a less than saavy dimwitted version of Tyler Durdan. He twitches and flips out and kvetches and generally spazzes out for the overly long length of the movie. And when did James Gandolfini as a gay hit man ever strike anyone as believable? The advice and love stories he and Roberts babble on about are boring, and only in a smarter film would the line about 'when is enough enough?' make anyone sit back and really think or say 'awww'. The only thing even moderately interesting were the little clips about the gun, and even they were like a bad homage to the Three Amigos. This movie dragged on way too long, and when Gene Hackman showed up I just wanted to know what happened to his career. Altogether, I would have rather watched Chips dubbed in spanish.
Looking for Mr. Goodbar (1977)
one of the most disturbing films i have ever seen
***SPOILERS*** ***SPOILERS*** I never read the book, and being of a younger generation,I actually did not realize there was one. I saw this film late night last summer while I sat in bed, with the boyfriend passed out beside me. I think if he had been awake I probably would not have paid attention to the film, but being as it was.. I was in for one of the most disturbing late night movies of my life. The drugs and promiscuity were no surprise tome,I unfortunately see it all the time in my generation,but I was moved by her working with the children, and most impressed with the portrayal of the kids. Children DO sense when something has changed or isn't right. But the big shock for me was the ending. I didn't see that coming, especially not from Tom's character. I found it most upsetting, especially how she was actually moaning and getting into it as he was murdering her. To this day I am haunted by the fading image of her dead,surprised face flashing in a strobe effect. And I am scared to death.