Reviews from Drew

2007-08-05T21:19:00.000-04:00

The Simpsons Movie
In theaters: 2007
Runtime: 87 minutes
Seemed like: 120 minutes
aaaaaaa out of 10 checkmarks

I am a Simpsons fan from the start. I watched them on the Tracy Ullman Show. I remember the first Christmas special before the premier of their primetime show. I purchased cels from their first season. The Simpsons were fresh. Bart was irreverent. The comedy was complex and simple at the same time...the only way I like comedy.

This movie was a tame reflection of what the Simpsons used to be. The movie should have been called Homer's Odyssey, based on its obsession with the father figure. Where was the ironic banter of all of the sidekicks? The beauty of the Simpsons is the depth provided by the Patty and Selma's, or the Apu's, or the Barney's. Their ability to make Homer seem even more simple is what makes the show tick.

I will give kudos for the roles of Chief Wiggum and the comic book guy("worst episode ever"), but what happened to Monty Burns, the billionaire we love to hate. He just had a cameo. Lisa was strong at the outset, but essentially pushed aside by the end. Marge was classic Marge. But Bart was NOT Bart. When would Bart EVER want Flanders for his father??? Bart was barely mischievous.

Maybe I'm too close. The animation was the best I've ever seen on the Simpsons, but that's not saying much. Part of the Simpsons charm has been the lousy animation. Great music...kudos to Hans Zimmer.

I'm glad I saw it, just for history's sake. If you're not a Simpsons fan, and are over 25 don't waste your money.

PS If you go...wait through the credits!

2007-08-01T21:18:00.000-04:00

Bourne Ultimatum
Released in theater 2007
Runtime: 111 minutes
Seemed like: 95 minutes
aaaaaaaaa out of 10 checkmarks

Wow! A movie in the theater! The big screen, the big speakers, the way the Bourne movies were meant to be seen. Lots of great chase scenes, great action scenes and fantastic music make this a great show to spend money on. Fortunately, we didn't have to spend any money to see this sneak preview (thanks Marcey!) we just had to put up with some local radio personality for 10 minutes.

This is a fun summer movie. If you haven't sen any Bourne movies, this guy is an uber-spy that the CIA is trying to rub out. That's all you need to know. The rest is just rooting for the underdog against the big bad government. Matt Damon gives as much expression as he can to this nearly robotic character. Most of the acting is understated, shall we say. Since there's no humor or intimacy throughout the movie, it's really just a matter of being very tense.

So, if it's not up to the actors, the success of this movies lies with the director and writers. What a fast-paced movie! Paul Greengrass must have stock in Red Bull. This movie never stops. But the writing is the glue that rises above the action and transcends the series of chases and fights into a fun, semi-intelligent, suspenseful thriller.

But I can't give it a perfect score. I wonder if the DP ever heard of a tripod? It's a great device that holds the camera steady. I understand the use of handheld cameras to enhance action and suspense, but give my eyes a break when the action slows down. Finally, Greengrass pushed my suspension of disbelief too far a couple of times. It's great to see Bourne escape from terrible predicaments with only his wits and resourcefulness, but he crawled out of one too many car accidents for my taste. The guy's supposed to be human after all.

Watch this movie. It's fun.

2007-07-19T21:20:00.000-04:00

Shooter
DVD Released 2007
Runtime: Approximately 124 minutes
Seems like 150 minutes
aaaa out of 7 stars

Let me preface this review by telling you I never liked the Rambo movies. I always thought the vigilante shoot-em-up movies over-simplified things. Good vs bad, violence solves all problems, and no wrong goes unavenged. I'm sorry, but life can be unfair, and no amount of fighting back can change that.

That being said, Shooter is OK, even if it is a Rambo rip-off. Lots of fun action, good plot twists, and pretty girls. It's a great way to hate the crooks in the government without really having to do anything about them. The soundtrack doesn't detract from the movie, in fact it actually adds suspense in a few key scene. The explosions were great, the chases believable. The acting was fine, if you like stereotypes, but the dialogue was lame and cliche ridden.

Mark Wahlberg portrays the latest uber-human with incredible shooting and survival skills. No real complexity or back story, just a military machine. Danny Glover is a government crook who whispers instead of talks. This is one of his weakest roles I've seen in a long time.

Except for the first plot twist, the movie is predictable. There's the classic thriller scene of the bad guy stalking the underwear clad girl, all alone in her bedroom. There's the classic plea for patriotism. And there's the classic conspiracy. It was a classic movie from a template.

Don't bother watching this if you want to expand your mind. If you just want to escape a little, sit back and watch the explosions!

2007-06-28T20:07:00.000-04:00

Children of Men
DVD released 2007
Running time: 109 minutes
Seemed like: 90 minutes
aaaaaaaaaaaaaa out of 15 checkmarks

This adaptation of the pre-apocalyptic novel by P.D. James makes me want to get the book from the library. Set in a British landscape not quite as desolate as the original Mad Max movies, the movie created a world just over the brink of disaster in a mostly believable way.

Acting is secondary to the story and directing. This appears to be Clive Owen's largest role. Ever hear of him?...me neither. He's a little bit of a British Nicholas Cage, always has kind of a smirk, but conveys a wide array of emotions nevertheless. This character wasn't a real strong acting role, so maybe that's why he was so capable. Julianne Moore did fine, but the scene stealer was Michael Caine as an ancient hippie, of course.

The directing was crisp and riveting. The story never slowed down, and the expository revelations really created a believable world. Alfonso Cuarón is virtually unknown to me. I enjoyed Y tu mamá también, but he is apparently breaking into the mainstream with a Harry Potter flick and this. I'll be looking for his next features.

There are some excellent, looooong shots in this movie. In the uprising scene, one shot appears to last for 2 to 3 minutes with an incredible amount of action. On further review, it appears they were extremely excellent editors.

If you don't like futuristic movies, don't watch this. If you like carefully crafted story-telling, solid direction, head-scratching plots, true suspense, plus realistic revolution scenes, this movie is a must.

2007-01-26T18:52:00.000-05:00

Check out these previous blogs of current Oscar nominees:

Little Miss Sunshine :

Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role

Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role

Best Motion Picture of the Year

Original Screenplay
Pirates of the Carribean: Dead Man's Chest :

Achievement in Art Direction

Achievement in Sound Editing

Achievement in Sound Mixing

Achievement in Visual Effects
Cars :

Best Animated Feature Film of the Year

Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Song)

2007-01-26T16:35:00.000-05:00

Little Miss Sunshine
DVD released 2006
Running Time: 101 minutes
Seemed like 90 minutes
* out of 1 star

This nominee for Best Picture is one of the best movies I've seen in a while. Since it is already getting so much publicity and press, I'll limit my comments to gushing.

This is a low-budget Vacation, but funnier. There's no WallyWorld, no Chevy Chase or Beverly D'Angelo, but there is an insanely funny dysfunctional family that pulls together to create a family moment Capra would shed a tear for.

The characters:

Alan Arkin is a dirty old man. This reject from a nursing home can't keep his mind out of the gutter.
Steve Carell (The Office) is a pathetic loser.
Paul Dano is a sulking teen obsessed with Nietzsche.
Greg Kinnear is Willie Loman
Toni Collette is the weakest part as the mom
Abigail Breslin is the star as the naive little girl.

It's a great recipe that makes the line: "Everyone pretend to be normal" hilarious.

Make sure you watch this pithy commentary on death, morality, society, and love.

2007-01-26T16:01:00.000-05:00

Pirates of the Carribean: Dead Man's Chest
DVD released 2006
Running time: 150 minutes
Seemed like 175
*** out of four stars

Dead Man's Chest (or Curse of the Sequel of Curse of the Black Pearl), carries a lot of dead weight. It relies heavily on the first movie for both the storytelling and the humor. Unfortunately, I couldn't remember enough of the first movie to understand a lot of the jokes or the story.

I enjoyed the first POTC. Johnny Depp was a hoot, Orlando Bloom was secondary enough to not reveal he's just eye-candy, and the novelty of associating the movie as the back story to the Disneyland ride gave it a sentimental edge. My favorite part was the guys in jail trying to get the keys from the dog, JUST LIKE IN THE RIDE I RODE WHEN I WAS 10! The rest of the story was just fun.

Dead Man's chest tries to take itself seriously. They want us to care about the intrigue of family relationships and trysts with the devil (or Davey Jones.) WHY? Can't it just be silly action? The special effects, BTW, were very good. The makeup for Davey Jones' crew was gruesomely grand, and the digital octopus was quite lifelike. The soundtrack was well done and will be a great addition to my mp3 collection.

Depp's role stole the movie, of course. His flaming selfishness, and cowardly ambitions are conveyed through this weirdo. And what great makeup with the eight eyes.

None of the other actors deserve mention in this forgettable film. While some productions manage to entertain both children and adults at the same time, this film got lost and probably scares kids and bores adults. Then, horror of horrors, it sets up another sequel at the end.

Don't bother with this.

2007-01-18T19:28:00.000-05:00

Wit
DVD released 2002
Running time:98 minutes
Seemed like: 80 minutes
********** out of 11 stars

Emma Thompson shines again. This HBO movie revolves around Thompson as a scholar dying from cancer. Her delivery pulls in the audience with flair, humor, emotion, and...wit. Amie warned me that it was a chick flick. Instead, this was more of an intellectual exercise into metaphysical matters.

It's also a refreshing and distressing look at hospital life. The agendas and protocols that strip dignity from patients are startling. Clearly, the playwright who wrote the original play has experienced it herself. Emma and director Mike Nichols' wonderful screenplay transfers this sentiment to the screen.

As for Mike Nichols, director and co-screenplay writer, he breaks a lot of rules - the fourth wall, the time-space continuum, and keeping actors in character. The flashback juxtapositions - putting a chemo induce bald Emma into her college professor's office, putting her father from childhood into her hospital room - enhances the whole metaphysical dialog. Who ever thought John Donne would play a prominent role in an HBO flick?

Be prepared for uncomfortable scenes of nausea, pain, and death. They aren't exploitative, rather they complement the underlying themes.

Get this DVD. It's entertaining, mind expanding, thought provoking, and well executed.

2006-12-29T15:20:00.000-05:00

Cars
DVD released in 2006
Running time 116 minutes
seemed like 90 minutes
19 out of 20 stars

Who knew Pixar was 20 years old? My wife and I have watched computer generated animation from this house since the desk lamp and ball appeared in an International Tournee of Animation. Pixar's ability to mesh the new technology with the timeless art of storytelling sets them ahead of the rest of the field.

I am an animation fan. This movie ranks along side Monsters, Inc., Toy Story, Fantasia, Cinderella, and Snow White. They made the right move in Cars by not animating anything human. Too often the human computer generated (CG) animation is creepy, and this hurt both Monster's and Toy Story. I think Cars captured the beauty of animation through anthropomorphism.

The story is still aimed for youthful audiences, but of course Pixar does the usual remarkable job of keeping it entertaining for adults. They are the pros of self-conscious humor. But be prepared for a lesson on who friends really are. Also be prepared for the extended Randy Newman quirky songs.

If you want some fun... get this.

2006-12-13T21:23:00.000-05:00

Firewall
DVD released 2006
Running Time 105 minutes
Seemed like 130
**** out of 7 stars

Can Harrison Ford really be that old? He limps around and huffs and puffs in this movie to the point that you could never believe he flew in a galaxy far far away. He had this scared befuddled look throughout most of the movie. Granted, if I were in the circumstances he was in in this movie, I'd look scared as well. But HF was never in control until the end of the movie, it's just not like him.

This is another elaborate bank robbery scheme where the viewer tries to guess how it is going to work, combined with the thrill of holding a man's family hostage. The only problem is I never got a chance to care how the robbery would unfold because I was so involved with attempted escapes of the family from the bad guys. When the movie finally got around to the mechanics of the robbery, I was too bored to care. There are lots of bad action scenes with the aged HF getting knocked around, and lots of "tense" driving scenes. They weren't really driving fast or running stop signs, we were just supposed to feel tense because of the general theme of the movie.

THere were no memorable parts, no memorable lines, and no memorable shots. Give this one a C- and watch it if there's nothing better around.

2006-12-13T19:13:00.000-05:00

Whale Rider
DVD released 2003
Running Time 101 minutes
Seemed like 100 minutes
**** out of 5 stars

This was a charming look into the survival of ancient Maori traditions in modern New Zealand cultures. Set against the unique scenery of the NZ seashore, this relationship movie captures the angst of the old vs the new.

Don't expect fantastic cinematography or pacing or storytelling. Do expect a cast of characters you can relate to. The interplay between the crotchety grandfather and the indominatable granddaughter is impeccable. The universal themes of respect, love and spirituality fill this film with vitality. The sense of victory creates an emotional ending.

Sit back and enjoy this one.

2006-12-13T18:39:00.000-05:00

Nixon
DVD released 1996
Running time 212 minutes
Seemed like 400 minutes
** out of 5

Let me be perfectly clear, I liked Richard Nixon. I think he was one of the greatest presidents of the 20th Century. I understand he was paranoid and ignored the Constitution, but he was the most brilliant foreign and domestic policy mind of my life! I did not expect to like this movie from the beginning. That prejudice notwithstanding, this was a bad movie. The characters were merely caricatures, showing only one side of the principals. Anthony Hopkins kept dropping into an Irish brogue, odd for a role coming out of Yorba Linda. David Hyde Pierce played the officious despised John Dean, but who cares. Joan Allen looked hauntingly like Pat Nixon.

Who the heck is Oliver Stone? Has he ever directed anything worth watching? This guy has more conspiracies than Nixon himself.

I will admit, I was interested in the portrayal of the 1960 election, not that I believed it.

I don't want to waste any more time writing about this waste of celluloid. Don't rent Nixon!

2006-12-05T16:28:00.000-05:00

Donnie Darko
DVD released 2002
Running time 133 minutes
Seemed like 132 minutes
******** out of 9 stars

This film defies categorization. As I first watched, I thought it was a comedy. As it developed, I thought it was a coming of age movie, a la Breakfast Club. It even had the long tracks of popular music with silly editing. Then, it was a psychological thriller, then a murder mystery, and finally, it was science fiction. The movie crossed so many lines, it makes your head spin, and that's the beauty of it. This movie is developing a cult. A quick Google search returns 2.23 million results!

The cast was filled with relatively small stars. A young Jake Gyllenhaal, Mary McDonnell, Noah Wyle and Drew Barrymore (who was also the Executive Producer.) While their acting was fine, it is the story that makes this movie so watchable. I'm still scratching my head over what I saw (this explains the plethora of websites surrounding the movie.) I don't want to ruin the movie, but the exploration into schizophrenia is very engaging.

Technically, there were some audio problems. I know I missed some inportant dialogue since the soundtrack competed with the spoken word. The directing was snappy, and it never dragged. Some special effects enhanced the story, but never overwhelmed it.

This is a must-see! You'll never view Harvey the same way again!

2006-11-27T21:02:00.000-05:00

Chocolat
Released on DVD 2001
Running Time: 121 minutes
Seemed like 2 hours
4 out of 5 stars

This movie falls in the realm of Amelie or Like Water for Chocolate. It is the fantasy that goodness and kindness will conquer all other troubles and evils in the world. This is a great escapist movie.

There aren't many stars other than Dame Judi Dench and Johnny Depp. This lack of big names works perfectly for this village of very common people.

There's not much to speak of in the way of cinematography or plotlines. This is just a heartfelt story of a stranger transforming a town. This is a very pleasant movie.

2006-11-27T19:45:00.001-05:00

The Da Vinci Code
DVD released 2006
Running time: 2 hours and 29 minutes
Seemed like 2 hours and 15 minutes
5 out of 8 stars

Read the book. It's very entertaining, but it wraps up a little too easily, like a Hardy Boys' mystery. The movie comes across exactly the same way.

The Da Vinci Code is great for its discussion and relative believability of a religious mystery. As a religious skeptic, I loved the possibilities this story presents. Amie, on the other hand, contends Dogma presents the same arguments in a different form. It's all great fun. But when it's all said and done, this is just a murder mystery, with a Hardy Boys/Scooby Doo finish.

DVC is very dark. The first half of the movie is steeped in shadow, adding to the mysterious murder that starts the movie. Unfortunately, it's hard to make Audrey Tautou dark. Her unusually beautiful eyes and sprite-like face make it difficult to view her as a frightened heroine. Who was in charge of casting, anyway? Tom Hanks did not come across as an amateur detective, and Audrey Tautou was not a convincing cop. Of course, Ian McKellan stole the show, and pulled off his role flawlessly.

I have negatives and positives for Ron Howard. First, was he afraid of the reaction this movie would get from the religious community? He bends over backwards and almost apologizes for the ideas presented in the movie. He throws in several lines of dialogue that water down the theories. Come on, it's only a movie! On the other hand, he did a great job of telling the "back" stories of the characters in montages. Deftly edited, he was able to bring the viewer up to date without slowing down the pacing.

This was an action packed movie, like the book. But like the book, it's lightweight fare.

2006-11-27T19:23:00.000-05:00

Angels in America
DVD released in 2004
Running time: 2 disks total of 5 hours and 52 minutes
7 out of 15 stars

This HBO drama has a wonderful cast. Al Pacino, Meryl Streep, Mary-Louise Parker, and Emma Thompson create a diverse, talented ensemble. All of the stars played more than one role in the movie, displaying true depths in their talents. I am beginning to think Meryl Streep is the greatest living actress. She seems to be middle-ageless. Sexy and mature. She really stretches in her roles here.

AiA tries hard to be campy avant-garde. It creates fantastic quirky characters to evoke prejudice and tolerance. Dreams and imaginations pull us into amazing worlds. Plot twists bring these disparate characters together in a tragic dance. It nearly hits the mark as a really good production.

OK, enough gushing. This mini-series had great intentions with mediocre execution. It seems the playright, Tony Kushner, presumed we all wanted to hear his preachy opinions at the end of the piece. Please, Mr. Kushner, create some entertaining or disturbing stories, and allow us to react in our own ways. I would have been annoyed at your soliloquies at a stage play, let alone in a television production. The last episode totally ruined what was otherwise an A- story.

Watch this, but don't expect too much.

2006-11-16T21:57:00.000-05:00

Lucky # Slevin
2006
Running Time: Approximately 109 minutes
Seemed like 100 minutes
******* out of 9 stars

This was a pleasant surprise. We're usually not big fans of action adventure flicks, but the team of Ben Kingsley, Morgan Freeman, and Bruce Willis was irresistable. And who knew Lucy Liu could act? She is delightful as a ditz in the movie. This movie was well written, directed, and had great plot twists.

The action was bearable. Just a few bullets through some heads, but handled in almost a Pulp Fiction style. Death is a part of lfe here. The best facet of the movie is the sense of humor the characters have toward their lifestyles.

Watch this for a fun evening!

2006-11-16T21:30:00.000-05:00

Water
2006
Running Time: approx. 117 minutes
Running time seemed like: 140 minutes
*** out of 7

Did you think the USA was a mess in the 30's? Wait until you see this piece set in 1930's India. This movie requires a lot of the viewer. First, it uses subtitles. Most of the dialogue is Indian, with about 10% in English. But what a screwed up society. We've all heard of the caste system that still exists in some form today. This movie is based around a house of widows, a lowly status in Indian society. None of the actors are common names in the US. They may be famous in Bollywood, but who cares. The storytelling was a little melodramatic as well.

The best part of the movie was a glimpse at a different culture. The colors and celebrations were interesting. It was also interesting to tie in the Gandhi movement that was transforming the British colony at the time.

Watch this movie if you're a student of film. I can't recommend it for an evening of entertainment.

2006-11-07T19:22:00.000-05:00

North Country
DVD released 2006
*** out of 8
Running time 126 minutes
Seemed like 150 minutes
Extra features: Don't know, didn't watch.

This is based on a real story. It is the first class action lawsuit for sexual harassment against a company. Charlize Theron is pretty good, and Frances McDormand is excellent as pioneering women in the mining industry. That's about where it ends.

Niko Caro takes great liberties with the true story, but shouldn't have bothered. She created a dull story that was barely believable. Her knowledge of courtroom protocol must come from Perry Mason reruns.

Woody Harrelson turns a decent performance, but again it was wasted on this crappy screenplay. It's not very interesting, and not very factual.

Don't bother.

2006-11-05T20:01:00.000-05:00

A Prairie Home Companion
Running time: 105 minutes
Seemed like it took: 130
Extra features: I actually watched the full length commercials. This was as good as the movie
DVD released 2006
*** out of 5

If you're a fan of theMPR radio show, A Prairie Home Companion, you'll enjoy this. I'm not sure what you'll think if you're unaware of PHC. The movie is as quirky as the radio show. As a casual listener of the radio show, I found this movie to be amusing, but without direction. But, that's what I think of the radio show. It has cute skits and wonderful stories, but it never goes anywhere.

Garrison Keillor wrote the screenplay, and didn't fall for the star factor. His role was actually rather understated. It was probably wise to give the names (Kevin Kline, Merryl Streep, Lily Tomlin) the real acting roles. They were all polished and funny. Unfortunately, the story was just so quirky, and the characters never really developed beyond their initial appearances.

Don't expect a riveting story, just sit back and let the time sit still.
Next: North Country.

2006-10-10T20:20:00.000-04:00

The Quiet American
DVD released 2003
Running Time: approximately 101 minutes
running time seemed like: 100 minutes
**** out of 8 stars

I suppose it's part of my generation, but I've always been interested in stories about the Viet Nam war. The Quiet American takes place in the timeframe between the French involvement in IndoChina and American involvement. If the events in the movie have any factual basis, that's the best part of the film. The American backing of an independent general is a great bit of intrigue if it's true.

Unfortunately, the movie centers around a love triangle. Watching a Brit put on the niceties of a 1950's gentleman while defending the honor of his girlfriend just doesn't interest me. Stick with the politics and intrigue, or get nitty gritty with the jealousy. Michael Caine is his usual excellent droll self, Brendan Fraser is very credible, and Do Thi Hai Yen creates quite the enigmatic heroine.

Overall, this movie is watchable. It needs more edginess to be more than a B movie. Watch it if you're bored.

2006-10-10T20:02:00.000-04:00

Six Feet Under Season 1 Disc 1
DVD released 2002
Running Time: 58 minutes per episode
*** out of 6 stars

This is cute. Unfortunately, it fits into the sitcom mold with a set format each episode. Scene one...somebody dies. The rest of the show revolves around how the funeral home deals with the new dead body and their own foibles.

The family problems are good fodder for entertainment. The characters are interesting, and the dialog is well written. Let's see, aimless drifter, gay businessman, derelict widow, and drugged up teenager, a delightful family. Lauren Ambrose is a refreshing and interesting actress. The rest are OK.

This show is no Sporanos, but it's better than most network TV.

2006-10-05T19:01:00.000-04:00

The Lake House
2006
Running Time: approx. 105 minutes
Running time seemed like: 125 minutes
***** out of 7

Here's a date movie for couples who love logic puzzles and love stories. Two people, separated by two years but able to communicate through a mailbox "time portal", and united by a scruffy dog, try to bridge their temporal separation. This time warped story stretches the suspension of disbelief like Anna Nicole in spandex. I have seen a variety of posts mentioning continuity problems throughout, but they do little to diminish the movie.

Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves, both understated and mediocre actors, fit this movie well. This movie is all about the mind-bending story line, and the cinematography. Some devices shouldn't have made their way into this production (like the revolving door camera stolen from Sexy Beast and I'm sure others), but the interplay between the 2 separate time elements were very well done.
If you have ADD, don't watch this flick. The shots are long, languid, and luscious. Unfortunately, it drags a little compared to most films made today. That's where it loses stars in my ratings.

At last, a chick flick that actually makes oone think. Be sure to pick this one up.

Coming soon...Six Feet Under.

2006-10-01T08:31:00.000-04:00

Spanglish
*** out of 5
DVD released in 2005
Length of movie - approx 131 minutes
How long did the movie seem to take? - approx 115 minutes
Extra features on DVD - Don't know...just watched the movie.

I stand in awe of James L. Brooks. He has again crafted a wonderful story out of a pig's ear, pardon my bad metaphor. Take these elements...Adam Sandler, three child actors, Cloris Leachman, and a title like Spanglish...and tell me the words insipid, vapid, waste of time or mind-numbing don't come to mind. Mr. Brooks, however, has snatched Harry Met Sally from the jaws of Big Daddy. He avoided the easy cliches and tired devices to make a funny, touching, entirely enjoyable story.

Ignore the first scene, apparently, Brooks couldn't avoid all of the tired devices. Tea Leoni is the star of this show. Her overly competitive, spastic, neurotic character steals the show. I can't, for the life of me, remember her in any other role, but her name sure rings a bell. I'll certainly remember her after this. Sandler didn't ruin the show, he was atypically serious throughout. Paz Vega is great eye candy. Cloris Leachman is her usual delightful character actor. The child actors will appear again, I'm sure, but this isn't a movie to remember them by.

Brooks takes this movie to the brink of the saccharine abyss several times. Each time, he saves us from this punishment with a new surprise. This is a great date movie. It loses a couple of stars because it's not exactly high theater. But if you're looking for some light entertainment that doesn't require much of your brain...this is it.

2006-09-24T20:56:00.000-04:00

Hidalgo

** out of 8
DVD released in 2005
Length of movie - approx 2hours 19 minutes
How long did the movie seem to take? - 3.5 hours
Extra features on DVD - Don't know...just watched the movie.

What a sappy Disney movie. Produced by Touchstone, I thought I was back in the 60's watching some bad Dean Jones feature. Based on the "true" story of Frank Hopkins, this had some potential to be an interesting period piece. Instead, it turned into a happy horse story only a junior high girl could love (or my wife Amie.)

Viggo Mortenson isn't much of an actor. He survived The Lord of the Rings trilogy because Aragorn isn't really supposed to talk much. In this movie, he was the leading role, but still had no real personality! And could he get the marbles out of his mouth. Boomhauer has better diction. From this point on, I will not view Mortenson as a positive indicator for a movie.

The photography was nice, but I'd rather see Lawrence of Arabia. It had a much stronger story line, was far better directed, and deserved every minute of its 3.5 hours plus. Hidalgo should have been condensed to 90 minutes. The effects were hokey and the indian mirages were silly.

I won't ruin the climax of the movie, but think Disney!

Don't waste your time on this one.

Next up...The Sopranos, Season 1 Disc 3.