mcgee-8
Joined Oct 1999
Welcome to the new profile
We're still working on updating some profile features. To see the badges, ratings breakdowns, and polls for this profile, please go to the previous version.
Reviews22
mcgee-8's rating
When I heard that Chris Columbus was directing the first Harry Potter movie, I had my doubts. But "The Sorcerer's Stone" turned out to be splendid -- as Ron would say, wicked. Looked good, good story, generally acted well. I was thinking as I took it in, this may be the Star Wars for my kids' generation.
The child actors, perhaps expertly coaxed by Columbus, all turned in good performances, particularly Rupert Grint as Ron. Emma Watson did overemote as Hermoine, but because her character's also a ham, and because the girl is so darn cute, I could cut her some slack this time.
As for the adults, I'm thinking that at the least, Robbie Coltrane deserves a supporting actor Oscar nom. The movie was well-cast, especially with J.K. Rowling's personal choice for Snape, Alan Rickman.
A couple of nit-picks: the Quidditch field (pitch?) looked rather phony from the sky, like it was in a Harry Potter video game. And I'm not sure I would've detected this had I not seen the NBC interview with Daniel Radcliffe, but in more than half the scenes, you can tell if you look close that there's no lenses in Harry's glasses.
The child actors, perhaps expertly coaxed by Columbus, all turned in good performances, particularly Rupert Grint as Ron. Emma Watson did overemote as Hermoine, but because her character's also a ham, and because the girl is so darn cute, I could cut her some slack this time.
As for the adults, I'm thinking that at the least, Robbie Coltrane deserves a supporting actor Oscar nom. The movie was well-cast, especially with J.K. Rowling's personal choice for Snape, Alan Rickman.
A couple of nit-picks: the Quidditch field (pitch?) looked rather phony from the sky, like it was in a Harry Potter video game. And I'm not sure I would've detected this had I not seen the NBC interview with Daniel Radcliffe, but in more than half the scenes, you can tell if you look close that there's no lenses in Harry's glasses.
I think "Jaws," after all these years, remains Steven Spielberg's best film (outdistancing his second-best, "Raiders Of The Lost Ark.") And it's my all-time personal favorite movie. While you'd likely not find it on many critics' best-of lists for the 20th Century, it's the most fully entertaining film I've ever seen -- a classic mix of drama, plot and characterization.
I believe Spielberg was quoted as saying he was disappointed that the shark scenes near the chief's boat looked less than authentic. And while it's true the shark that attacks the boat looks more mechanical than real, it's only in the film for a relatively short time, and does not distract from the overall brilliance of the movie.
An expert buildup to the shark attacks, a sense of chaos and fear that never feels phony, a fine (and underrated) collection of acting performances, a terrific score by John Williams, and refreshing moments of comic relief to ease the tension. All this and more make "Jaws" one of the great Hollywood films.
I especially like the acting chemistry between Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw and Richard Dreyfuss when the three are trying to hunt down the shark that's been terrorizing their beach-vacation town. Also, I found Shaw's character's tale about shark attacks on survivors of his sunken WWII boat to be a memorable piece of acting.
Spielberg aimed for higher meaning with films like "Schindler's List" and "Saving Private Ryan," and he made more money with "E.T." and "Jurassic Park," but I maintain that "Jaws" is Spielberg at his best, doing what he does best: solid storytelling and characterization, memorable and gripping plotlines, and first-rate entertainment that pushes all the right buttons.
I believe Spielberg was quoted as saying he was disappointed that the shark scenes near the chief's boat looked less than authentic. And while it's true the shark that attacks the boat looks more mechanical than real, it's only in the film for a relatively short time, and does not distract from the overall brilliance of the movie.
An expert buildup to the shark attacks, a sense of chaos and fear that never feels phony, a fine (and underrated) collection of acting performances, a terrific score by John Williams, and refreshing moments of comic relief to ease the tension. All this and more make "Jaws" one of the great Hollywood films.
I especially like the acting chemistry between Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw and Richard Dreyfuss when the three are trying to hunt down the shark that's been terrorizing their beach-vacation town. Also, I found Shaw's character's tale about shark attacks on survivors of his sunken WWII boat to be a memorable piece of acting.
Spielberg aimed for higher meaning with films like "Schindler's List" and "Saving Private Ryan," and he made more money with "E.T." and "Jurassic Park," but I maintain that "Jaws" is Spielberg at his best, doing what he does best: solid storytelling and characterization, memorable and gripping plotlines, and first-rate entertainment that pushes all the right buttons.
With expert flair, Disney made a spirited, visually enchanting and often-touching adaptation from the P.L. Travers books. Featuring one of the great movie scores of all time, and a knockout performance of prim, proper British beauty and intelligence by Julie Andrews, this movie hardly ever falters. Dick Van Dyke's performance is a marvel of energy and charm, despite the moments when his Cockney accent sounds less than natural.
David Tomlinson's performance as Mr. Banks deserves special notice, I think. Mr. Banks' moments of snobbery, and his later awakening to his family's needs, add humanizing elements to the film that keep it from being too sugary and sentimental.
And the score by the Sherman brothers is masterful. "Chim Chim Chiree," which won an Oscar for best song, is actually one of the lesser (although still good) songs, I think. I prefer "Supercali..." and "Feed The Birds" and "Step In Time." But every single song, even "Sister Suffragette," packs a wallop.
This was the first movie I fell in love with as a young child, and I remain entranced by moments in the film like the dancing chimney sweeps and the lady feeding the birds.
David Tomlinson's performance as Mr. Banks deserves special notice, I think. Mr. Banks' moments of snobbery, and his later awakening to his family's needs, add humanizing elements to the film that keep it from being too sugary and sentimental.
And the score by the Sherman brothers is masterful. "Chim Chim Chiree," which won an Oscar for best song, is actually one of the lesser (although still good) songs, I think. I prefer "Supercali..." and "Feed The Birds" and "Step In Time." But every single song, even "Sister Suffragette," packs a wallop.
This was the first movie I fell in love with as a young child, and I remain entranced by moments in the film like the dancing chimney sweeps and the lady feeding the birds.