gitrich

Gosford Park is filled with good acting but the characters are not memorable nor are they likeable. In fact there are far too many characters which left me trying to keep track of them through out the film. Maggie Smith and Emily Watson are wonderful but they are the only really bright spots in this Robert Altman effort. Don't get me wrong, the acting is superb but the script leaves a lot to be desired. Go see The Royal Tenenbaums, a much better film. It is loaded with humor and loveable characters that you will remember long after you leave the theatre.

I watched Shrek for the first time on video and certainly would recommend it. However, it is not without some flaws. It starts out with one hilarious moment after another but then settles into a simple story of two friends, Shrek , voiced by Mike Myers and his new found friend the donkey voiced by Eddie Murphy going on a journey to rescue a lovely maiden stuck in a castle guarded by a fire breathing dragon. Murphy really stands out and has most of the funny lines.John Lithgow is the voice for Prince Farkward, a power hundred midget with a mean personality. The music was an odd mix of oldies and newer rock tunes. Not effective for me but then I'm an old timer myself. I would not hesitate to take children over the age of 8. No younger! Some scenes would be scary for young children. Still, Shrek has some tender moments too and some worthwhile lessons about life. I recommend it but wished for a little more.

I love baseball, therefore, I was really looking forward to this film produced by Billy Crystal. Yes, it does tell the story of Maris and Mantle's quest to break the home run record, but there is something lacking. The acting was forced at times, especially early in the movie. The story centered on Roger Maris' , a ball player who continually angers the press with his attitude during interviews. Even with those around him, including Mantle, telling him how to handle the questions, he still chooses not to take their advice. I found the movies very slow moving at times concentrating mostly on how Rogers Maris was hounded by the reporters when , in fact, he brought most all the problems on himself. This not as good as Pride of the Yankees, The Natural, or 8 Men Out. It does, however, tell the story of two great baseball players going after the record of a legend. If you like baseball, you will enjoy the film regardless of its faults. Hey, a triple is not bad but it could have hit a home run.