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Reviews
Thunderbirds (2004)
Loads...
Loads of complaints. Loads of gripes. Loads of whines. Loads of rubbish.
The point here was to make a fun family film that would appeal to the adults and keep the kids entertained. It succeeds on both levels. The gadgetry is neat and pretty true to the originals (I was a huge US fan of the series) and Tracy Island in particular is almost a dead ringer for the original "sets". The cast is just fine though I will agree that Paxton is just too young to have such such mature-looking sons. Lady Penelope is well cast, as is the Hood, and Parker's casting was a stroke of genius. He easily carries the film's comedic side.
Forget the implausibility of it all. Your kids will love it and you'll enjoy it too.
In summary: loads of fun.
Holes (2003)
Good family fun...and Eartha Kitt to boot!
This is a very enjoyable adaptation of Louis Sachar's novel, which is required reading for 4th graders in our county. It's loads of fun besides, if a bit predictable at times. It does feature interesting and thought provoking subplots and well-drawn characters. The ensemble of kids ALL do a good job (particularly standouts Shia LaBeouf and Khleo Thomas), Jon Voight is over the top as "Mr. Sir"--somewhat reminiscent of Jack Nicholson in "The Shining"!--a weirdly menacing character who pales only slightly to the real villain, the Warden, played by the always delightful Sigourney Weaver. Throw in Henry Winkler as an oddball scientist seeking a cure for smelly shoes, Patricia Arquette as a schoolmarm turned bandit, Dule' Hill as Sam, who can fix anything except prejudice, and Eartha Kitt--yes, EARTHA KITT!!!--as a gypsy whose curse follows the Yelnats family--and you've got a real family jewel. This was a sleeper success in the box office and justifiably so. I found the DVD's menus a bit hard to navigate, but that's a minor inconvenience. Very highly recommended.
Choose Me (1984)
Stunning
I drove a long way to see this film, from Riverside to Santa Monica. Well, it was long way for me back then anyway. I loved it so much I sat through it twice that night, and came back a few nights later and sat through it twice again.
This film works for me on so many levels I can't fully describe it, but I definitely identified (and still do, to be honest) with Keith Carradine's Mickey. Chong and Bujold are appealing (especially the latter) and Leslie Ann Warren has never been better.
Rudolph and Carradine have at least one connection, by the by--the both worked on "Nashville".
Driven (2001)
Drivel
>>>>"...this isn't as nearly bad as you all have given a rating too. (sic)"
Yes it is.
>>>"The screenplay wasn't that bad..."
Yes it is.
>>>"...and besides...particularly racing it's tuff to present into a full two-hour piece. (sic again)"
No it isn't. How about "Winning?" How about "The Last American Hero"? How about "Greased Lightning"? How about "Heart Like A Wheel"? Hell, "Stroker Ace" and "Days Of Thunder" (which really is pretty wretched) are better racing movies than "Drivel" ...er, "Driven".
>>>"P.S. Besides how many movies about racing are there, ha. (still sic)"
See the above excellent (or in the case of "Stroker Ace" and "Days Of Thunder", not so excellent) examples.
>>>"A few, you all should be gratefull for this piece Sly put together. (even sic'r)"
I suspect most CART teams disassociated themselves from "Driven" pretty quickly. Because it IS "Drivel". It should be avoided at all costs.
Winning (1969)
For race fans, this is a Winner!
Taken as a whole, this does not measure up to Newman's later works, but that's not his fault. The story is a weak and draggy at times. Certainly it's not "The Verdict", but then it's not meant to be. It is what it is, a pretty basic story about a race car driver and his relationships; between he and his distant wife, his teammate (and again, his wife) and his stepson. The uneven pacing almost sinks the film as a whole, though the supporting cast is pretty ace. But forget all that for a moment.
For race fans the vintage footage alone is worth the price of admission...Can-Am cars at Elkhart Lake open the show and Indy closes it. Great stuff! What makes it all really work is that PLN did his own driving and it's clear he is enjoying himself and is right at home in the car, not shoehorned in like a Burt Reynolds or Tom Cruise or Sly Stallone. He is a RACER, and it shows. Plus the ending is classic Newman; you just don't know what's going to happen next, and you WANT to know.
Also recommended: "Grand Prix" and "Le Mans".
Grand Prix (1966)
The best racing movie ever?
Well, maybe not, but this is stunning. Simply stunning. Oh sure, the story line isn't the greatest, but it's adequate. Garner is a race fan and it shows, and the often poignant cameos from race drivers of the day and the terrific action footage and legendary split-screen cinematography has a ferocious visceral impact that must be experienced. Oh, to have seen this one on a big screen with today's surround sound...film nirvana for a race fan!
Now then. Compare this to "Days Of Thunder" or "Driven" and you'll know why race fans cringe whenever any megastar speaks about making a movie based around racing. There are action sequences, certainly, and there are crashes, yes. Someone even goes into the water at Monaco in this film. I believe that's happened in real life at least once. But nothing takes place that's near as overtly spectacularly mind-numbing as the computer generated sequences in "Driven" or the constant beating and banging of fenders in "Days Of Thunder". It just doesn't happen that way in real life, folks. During a sneak preview of "Days Of Thunder" given in a southern state to remain nameless, the officials of the local short track started out cheering during the opening credits and shortly thereafter started flinging popcorn at the screen as the film got worse and worse, which it does very quickly.
So, what IS the best racing movie ever? Depends. My dream double feature is "Grand Prix" followed by "Heart Like A Wheel". Pop that popcorn, grab a sixer and enjoy. Then get thee out to your favorite race track and see the real thing.
Campfire Tales (1997)
Urban Legends Redux
Caught this flick as one of a five-for-$5 deal from a local video store, and it was a most pleasant surprise. It's a collection of four interrelated tales built around four kids who've just had a car wreck and are waiting for someone to pick them up. They tell each other these stories to kill time, and are occasionally startled by flashing lights and funny noises which all come together in an O. Henry-esque ending that left me gleeful. A real discovery. Blood (and plenty of it), breasts and beasts round it all out rather nicely...Jacinda Barrett is worth the price of admission alone. This one is a keeper--Jim Bob says check it out.
Oddly enough, "Pumpkinhead" was one of our five choices too, and IMDB recommends that for anyone who likes "Campfire Tales". I'll followup as soon as I get a chance to sit down and watch that one. Joyeux Samhain!
The Guardian (1990)
Pretty bad adaptation of a pretty good book
Dan Greenburg's novel (originally title "The Nanny" is a sexy, creepy thriller with a remarkably original premise. The film is only remarkable for its irredeemable tediousness, notable only for the ever-radiant presence of Jenny Seagrove ("Local Hero", "A Woman Of Substance") in the title role. She was an excellent choice and does the best she can with a terrible script, which makes me wonder if Greenburg ever read his own book, as he co-wrote the screenplay.
F/X (1986)
It's no illusion...this is a good flick!
Pop a bowl of popcorn (plenty of butter and salt please), sit back, and prepare to be entertained by this tale of a special effects master who's conned into arranging the "murder" of an underworld figure. This movie surprised me when I first viewed it, and somehow it continues to have staying power. Bryan Brown is an engaging actor, and Brian Dennehy has got to be one of the most underrated actors in the business. Together they make a great team; had the short-lived TV series managed to get them back together chances are it'd still be on the air.