Soso Review: School of Rock

School of Rock

Jack Black stars as a musician mooching off his buddy who works as a substitute teacher. When his Buddy's girlfriend, Sarah Silverman, gets on his case to get a job, he pretends to be his buddy to get a teaching gig.

He doesn't care about the kids until he hears them play music, then he decides to make them a rock band. This unlikely scenario flourishes into a full blown love story dedicated to Black's first and only desire, to be in battle of the bands.

I think I'm bowing to relationship pressure by reviewing this as watchable. I mean I suppose it was OK. My mate kept saying how great Jack Black in this role. So I just changed my mind. I didn't like this film much and I don't like the idea that someone can behave so irresponsibly around kids.

Sure it's a bad scene for parents to try and force their kids to be little automatons, but this kind of defiance left me grouchy. And all is forgiven eventually. Like no, he'd be in JAIL.

OK, rant over, watch it if you like. But a great film like Dead Poets Society rules and School of Rock drools. Look in Bandon, Coos Bay, Coquille, Myrtle Point and North Bend library branches for a copy of this DVD.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0332379/

Buy it on Amazon: School of Rock (Widescreen Edition)

The Far Pavilions

I wanted to like this Ben Cross and Amy Irving saga of a British boy raised among locals in India. After his parents die, his life is saved by his nursemaid until she dies and he returns to the British.

We meet, Ash, again all grown up and in the military. He's returning to India to the same area he lived as a boy. Assigned with taking a spoiled woman and her sister to be married off, he falls in love with the sister who is actually his long lost childhood love.

Things get complicated and she decides to marry in order to protect her sister. He leaves her there and goes off to Afghanistan to spy for the British. They ignore his advice and find themselves garrisoned without support and rebels break into the compound and kill many. He helps some escape.

His lady love gets him a message that she's being mistreated and he goes to rescue her. The old man they are married to dies and her sister intends to die on the funeral pyre with him and she's left orders that her sister must watch then be killed.

I thought all the cultural ins and outs were fascinating but honestly, it went on way too long, had too many plots and subplots and seemed far fetched. Amy Irving does an excellent job, but many of the other actors played the scenes far too melodramatic for my taste.

Bandon has the DVD and there's a VHS copy in Lakeside.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086711/

Buy the DVD from Amazon: The Far Pavilions

The Adventures of Milo and Otis
Japanese Title:
Koneko Monogatari

Cute little tale of a dog and kitty going on an adventure away from home. It's alright but I got bored. Might entertain a toddler for a couple of hours. Masanori Hata wrote and directed the film in Japanese, but they hired Dudley Moore to narrate the English version.

Library: VHS; Bandon & Coos Bay. DVD; Bandon, Coquille, Myrtle Point, North Bend & Powers

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097050/

Amazon: The Adventures of Milo and Otis

The Last Mimzy

This film tried real hard to be a kiddy science fiction flick, but came off too adult and too childish at the same time. They talked about dreams and the future and the past as if we're supposed to totally follow all the illogical logic.

While playing on the beach, two children find some rocks that spin and float. They hide them from their parents and take them back home. After some time passes and the rocks give the children mysterious powers and they build a weird device that blacks out half of Seattle.

Big bad government man, Michael Clarke Duncan, imprisons the kids for causing the black out but they escape and contact the boy's teacher, Rainn Wilson, to help them get back to the beach. Somehow the strange device opens a hole in time and nearly sucks the little girl into the future. Yeah, I'm confused and I saw it already.

Library: Dora, Myrtle Point & North Bend.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0768212/

A couple Soso cult classics.

These two films hold cult standing among many folks. I prefer my science fiction with a more believable and purposeful plot. You may feel differently, please feel free to leave a comment.

Escape from New York

Meet former war hero Snake Plissken, now a super bad tattooed criminal send in to the prison that is New York to rescue the world's greatest leader. Gangs of thugs run the streets and Plissken, Kurt Russell, has to find the president and get him out fast.

To motivate him to get the job done officials promise a pardon and embed him with an explosive device set to explode in 24 hours. I'm pretty sure no one wants to live in writer/director John Carpenter's scary future.

Library: DVD; Myrtle Point. VHS; Coos Bay & Lakeside.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082340/

Amazon: Escape from New York

Escape from L.A.

This time the United States government sends Snake Plissken in to dismantle a doomsday device inside the bowels of the undesirable island of Los Angeles. I found it a little more entertaining than the first, mostly because I don't think Kurt Russel took his character too seriously the second time around. All the ridiculous plot elements just seemed to amuse him more.

Even so, it's virtually the same film with a different location. Unlike other soso films, I don't regret seeing these, I just don't think they're worth watching more than once.

Library: Bandon & Myrtle Point.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116225/

Amazon: Escape from L.A.

Silly Soso List aboutr an Ernest Guy

Ernest goes to Jail

Library: VHS & DVD in Coos Bay
Amazon: Ernest Goes to Jail

Ernest in the Army

Library: North Bend
Amazon: Ernest in the Army

Ernest saves Christmas

Library: Myrtle Point
Amazon: Ernest Saves Christmas

OK, these are going to be basically the same exact film with Jim Varney playing the none too bright Ernest P. Worrell. Certainly watch if you like a lot of physical comedy and they're funny maybe once, but seen one, seen them all. Our hapless friend gets into strange situations he has no business doing and still he maintains his can do attitude. In a way that's admirable and charming, but a little bit goes a long way.

Soso Review: Enemy at the Door

Enemy at the Door

The British government decided the Channel islands were of no strategic value so when Germany decided to occupy them during the Second World War, no one lifted a finger to defend the land. These two miniseries depict the life of the Britain inhabitants that decided to remain in their homes.

Mostly we see the story of a doctor and his closest friends try and carry on under mainly German rule. Yes they have their own government, but it's highly ineffectual. They show a minor amount of resistance with painting V over the occupiers signs and printing news from the BBC in an underground newspaper.

While quite an interesting topic, I found the series generally dreary and depressing. I do understand that generally was the point, to show such an occupation realistically, but I think they could have done it with fewer stories.

They also showed the Germans as half sympathetic. I'm not sure it worked showing basically all the Brits being "good" and the German's only being half bad. We either needed less sympathy for the occupiers or more "bad" contrast within the native population. It felt lopsided.

Even though I do think most of you wont care for this, I'm glad I saw it. I like learning new bits of history. Find yourself curious about a topic not often covered in school? Take a look. Bandon has both series.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0122818/

Buy the series from Amazon: Enemy at the Door Set 1
Enemy at the Door - Series 2

An Animated Empire of Soso

The Emperor's Treasure

Though I do like the idea of some South American fables coming to film, the execution of this animation didn't excite me. The crude drawings seemed amateurish and I wish they'd made the bad guys BAD, instead of oafish.

While exploring ancient Inca ruins with his father, a fare haired young man falls asleep inside a cave. A puma spirit mysteriously appears and transports him many years into the past. Once there, he discovers the Inca in all their glory.

Because of his blond hair he's mistaken for the sun god's son. In order to save a princess from a bad marriage he has to be her champion and of course he falls in love.

His opponent tries to cheat the contest, but of course our hero wins in the end.

It's not HARMFUL to little children to watch, but I think adults would be bored. Let them watch by themselves. It might spark some interest in a different ancient culture.

Bandon and Coquille each have a copy of this family friendly DVD.

IMDB: None for this film

Amazon: The Emperor's Treasure (Golden Films)

The Emperor's New Groove

Probably if they'd cast someone besides David Spade as the lead voice I might have liked this better, but I doubt it. Like the last film, I like that it's a story from a different cultural point of view. I do like John Goodman and Eartha Kitt so that's a plus.

An egotistically insensitive emperor abuses everyone and then expects them all to bow and scrape at his feet. When his adviser gets fired she turns him into a Llama. He tries to get help from Goodman's peasant character but can't stop his abusive ways.

Again, this would be fine and safe for little kids. Maybe make a double feature and pop them a nice bowl of popcorn. Pick up the VHS in Bandon along with a DVD copy. North Bend also has the disk.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120917/

Amazon: The Emperor's New Groove - The Ultimate Groove (2-Disc Collector's Edition)

Soso Review: Dragonslayer

Dragonslayer

I so don't understand those IMDB people. Though this had a similar plot to Eragon, it didn't even come close to the entertainment value yet they rated it much higher. Just too weird.

A sorcerer's apprentice tries to help a village kill a virgin eating dragon after his magical mentor dies. He meets a guy we found out is a girl and they fall for each other.

He thinks he managed to kill the dragon but he's wrong and his girlfriend goes into the lottery with every girl in the village. The king's daughter thinks she's been part of the lottery all along but finds out that's not true. She fills the lottery hat with all her name which upsets her farther.

The magician comes to life and helps his assistant slay the dragon for real. I do not agree that the effects hold up as someone on IMDB said. I do NOT agree that the acting was good. It's not as bad as I expected but it's not worth watching unless you're really REALLY into this kind of thing.

Look in Bandon and Myrtle Point for the DVD and North Bend for the VHS copy.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082288/

Buy the DVD from Amazon: Dragonslayer

One DVD Three Soso Films

Edward G. Robinson: Triple Feature Movie Marathon

Two copies of this DVD at the Library in Bandon.
Amazon: Edward G. Robinson Triple Feature

Scarlet Street

Married everyman Edward G. Robinson comes across a beautiful woman being accosted by a man on the street. He saves her and she flirts with him, talking him into taking her out.

He seems to want to do anything to escape his dull life. The woman thinks he has money and she can play him for a sucker. The man beating her up turns out to be her good-for-nothing boyfriend. They scheme to get him to pay for an apartment to keep the woman in, on the guise that Robinson's character can use it for a studio.

When the woman tries to sell his paintings, they find out he has talent. Her boyfriend passes her off as the artist and she gets Robinson to paint more for her. Happening upon her making love to her boyfriend the artist flies into a rage and stabs her.

He gets away with the murder but it haunts him. I guess maybe for the time this might have been a very intriguing film. So you might find it better than I did. It kind of slogged to an inevitable conclusion. Look in Lakeside for the VHS copy of this film.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0038057/

Amazon: Scarlet Street

The Red House

Crabby father figure Edward G. Robinson tries to keep strangers away from property next to his farm. When a boy starts getting deeply interested in his young ward, Meg, he tries to frighten the boy away from cutting through the woods.

The young teens fall in love and go exploring in defiance. The boy sees a strange house and then gets scared off by a woodsman we later find out the father figure paid to keep the kids clear of the spooky woods.

They make reference to some creepy backstories and we do find out the whole sad truth in the end, but I don't want to spoil it. Lets say it's the tale of another haunted man.

Lakeside also has a VHS copy of this film.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0039757/

Amazon: Red House

The Stranger

Though directed by Orson Welles, I only liked this one slightly more than the other two. Really, it's his movie, but Edward G. Robinson got top billing. I guess he's the hero.

They took a really long convoluted route to the plot. Made just after World War II, Robinson chases a Nazi sympathizer to a small town hoping to find a bigger fish. Welles kills the man out of Robinson's sight, but the investigator figured out he's the bad guy.

Now it gets tricky. He's engaged to the local university president's daughter and she can't believe anything bad about her man. She kind of helps him and he makes a plot to kill her. Robinson does everything he can to prevent this and ends up fighting with Welles up in the clockworks of a church tower.

I'd seen the film before and forgotten all but the last few minutes. I like a more linear clear plot and a well defined reason for people to do what they do.

There's a DVD called Classic Film Noir in Bandon with a copy of this film on it. Also, North Bend has a VHS tape.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0038991/

Amazon: The Stranger

Soso Review: Fireproof

Fireproof

The poor acting and convoluted plot would have pushed this into a dog category but one concept saved it. It's called the love dare.

A husband and wife live together inside separate angry lives. He yells and her and she at him. He's a firefighter and risks his life daily and cannot understand why his wife doesn't just bow at his feet.

Feeling desperate he decides to go and talk to his father about it. His father tells him how he saved his marriage with this thing called the love dare. The 40 day program urges you to do daily steps to take care of your relationship. Most of them are faith based and even though things like that may turn some people off, I liked the idea.

Finding a way to be kind to your spouse is an extremely laudable goal. There seemed to be a backstory with this character's mother that I would have enjoyed knowing. I also wanted to know how he and his wife got so far off the rails. They had no memory of what got them together in the first place.

I'd like to have heard more about the steps but the ones I did hear seemed pretty good and could be applied in a secular manner. Like do acts of kindness expecting nothing in return. Give up relationship destroying patterns like looking for affection from people outside your marriage. Instead of praying for your spouse, you could just wish them peace and happiness. Though faith wasn't the flaw for this film. Pray if you like.

Look in Coos Bay, Dora, Myrtle Point, North Bend and Powers for the DVD.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1129423/

Look for additional info on Amazon: Fireproof

Bela Lugosi Triple Feature

White Zombie

A young couple travels to Haiti to get married, but while on the boat the wife to be meets a man who wants her for himself. He contacts the local zombie merchant to help him turn her into his slave bride. Bela Lugosi hypnotizes the woman with his gaze.

Quite a silly story and plot, but considering the times, I suppose it has its charm. I see now what fascinated Ed Wood about the mystical acting abilities of Lugosi.

Find it on the Bela Lugosi Triple Feature DVD from Bandon and Myrtle Point and on a VHS tape in Bandon.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0023694/

Buy the DVD from Amazon: White Zombie

The Corpse Vanishes

Wow I liked this one a little better but the folks on IMDB didn't. Ah well. Brides keep dying and then disappearing and the police can't figure out why. A nosy girl newspaper reporter figures out they are getting poisoned by a mysterious orchid and she tries to meet the doctor known to breed them.

We find out that the doctor, Bela Lugosi of course, took the women to develop a serum to make his wife beautiful. I liked the intrepid reporter girl and almost found the plot watchable.


Also, find this on the Bela Lugosi Triple Feature DVD from Bandon and Myrtle Point and on a double feature DVD in North Bend with The Invisible Ghost.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0034613/

Buy this DVD from Amazon: The Corpse Vanishes

Scared to Death

Now this rather convoluted plot annoyed me. The director chose to do a flash in and out of a dead woman's body with her voice over. This clumsy camera action detracted from the possibility the story might get interesting.

A doctor and his son try and find a way to encourage the son's wife to leave, but she refuses. She lives in fear of some mysterious past. Bela Lugosi shows up as a long lost associate of the doctor and may have something to do with the woman, but we're uncertain of that issue.

It had some potential, but just went nowhere. I couldn't tell if they wanted to go campy or scary.

this is only on the Bela Lugosi Triple Feature DVD from Bandon and Myrtle Point.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0039800/

Buy this DVD from Amazon: Scared to Death

Jim Carrey and Dr. Seuss Soso Films

Dr. Seuss' Horton hears a Who!

I have no attachment to this story as I didn't read the book as a child. I found it scary and dull. I've not always found the comedy stylings of Jim Carrey or Steve Carell particularly entertaining either. I like them sometimes, but a little goes a long LONG way.

Elephant Horton hears voices on a speck on a tiny flower. Nobody believes him but he's determined to chase down the flower and save the people on it.

Listen for mean ole Kangaroo voiced by Carol Burnett. The character scared me with her mean gripes. Too many lessons to keep straight. Should we pay close attention to our children? Or listen to our friends when they tell us something? What's the moral?

Look in Bandon, Coos Bay, Coquille, Myrtle Point and North Bend for the DVD.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0451079/

Amazon: Horton Hears a Who (Widescreen and Full-Screen Single-Disc Edition)

Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas

I liked the back story of the Grinch but like Horton Hears a Who, too much scary.for my taste. Also, I didn't like the over cartoonized hair, houses and cars. If you're going to make a cartoon, make a cartoon. Why go to all that trouble to build those funky sets.

A bitter old green creatures lives up in a mountain with his um dog, we'll call it a dog. He scares the townsfolk below. In this version, we see a story of why the Grinch might be so grinchy, but it isn't enough to save this convoluted live action version.

Really, I like the Chuck Jones cartoon from the 70s. If you want a story for the kiddies, get that one.

Jim Carrey version in VHS and DVD in both Bandon and Coos Bay. Look for another DVD copy in Lakeside. Chuck Jones version on DVD in Bandon and North Bend with various copies around the system on VHS.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0170016/

Amazon: Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas (Deluxe Edition)

Movie Review: Die Another Day

Die Another Day

Pierce Brosnan and Halle Berry hook up to try and save the world. You know, I have seen this film and it's a typical wizz bang Bond Flick, but I can't for the life of me remember the plot. I suppose it's a bad reviewer thing to admit, but it's true. Lets bump it down to Soso.

Library: Bandon, Dora & North Bend

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0246460/

Amazon: Die Another Day (James Bond Two-Disc Ultimate Edition)

Die Hard List

These are the four films of the Die Hard Series. All watchable except the second one. Feel free to skip that altogether if you like.

I decided to just list the Amazon link for the entire collection here:
Die Hard - The Ultimate Collection (Die Hard / Die Hard 2 / Die Hard with a Vengeance / Live Free or Die Hard Two-Disc Special Editions)

Die Hard

Though I tend to not like as much pointless violence, this film kept me wondering how they were going to deal with all the plot points. It's pure fun. Bruce Willis plays a down on his luck cop who tries to save his wife and an office full of her co-workers when thieves take them hostage.

He enlists the aid of a beat cop played charmingly by Reginald VelJohnson. At first the cop doesn't think anything is going on until Willis throws a body out a window. Bloody and battered, one man against several inspired me to sit up and cheer on cowboy John McClane.

Library: North Bend. VHS: Bandon, Coquille & Dora.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095016/

Die Hard 2

This film didn't hold up to the intrigue and charm of the first. Plus they stuck our guy in a stupid plot at an airport. His wife's plane is threatened and he has to save her once again.

I liked elements of it, but not enough to rate it above a Soso flick. You can even skip it and watch the third film without losing any plot points.

Library:DVD; Bandon.

IMDB:http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0099423/

Die Hard with a Vengeance

Now this film recaptured the charm and intrigue of the first. It added one of the best characters played by Samuel L. Jackson. Some guys related to the first film baddies that John McClane killed go after him.

They force him to walk down the street in Harlem with a sign insulting black people. Jackson's character, Zeus Carver, tries to save Willis and gets caught up in the plot. The white cop and black business owner argue, but eventually must cooperate to prevent a terrorist attack on a school.

Just when you think it's all about revenge, just keep watching. Lots of edge of your seat action and unexpected twists.

Library: VHS only; Coquille & Coos Bay.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112864/

Live Free or Die Hard

This most recent installment brings the series to a younger generation with an Internet related plot. A terrorist organization hires several hackers to plot methods for shutting down electrical grids and other strategic networks.

Our hero, John McClane, captures one of the hackers and saves him from assassins. Bringing him to FBI headquarters, just as the various phone and electrical grids are faultering. The kid and cop attempt to save the United States.

Library: Coos Bay, Dora, Lakeside & Myrtle Point.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0337978/

Movie Review: The Abandoned

The Abandoned

An adopted American woman finds out she has an inheritance in Russia. She travels there to find out about her past. Once there she experiences strange flashes forward and back and learns her father tried to kill her mother and his children. Mom managed to take the babies to safety before she died.

The cinematography kept my interest, but ultimately it's still a gritty horror flick. Watch it if that's your thing. Grab the DVD from Bandon

IMDB:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0475937/

Look for the DVD from Amazon:
The Abandoned

Couple of Old So and So

Divine Madness

Bette Midler has a beautiful voice and she's a comic genius. I simply don't like her choice of most songs. I LOVE The Rose, but most of the rest of what she sang didn't really thrill me.

Her comedy bits are really great as well. Very dirty though. Not for kids AT ALL. I love bawdy humor like that.

Honestly I think any fans of hers would like this pre Beaches Midler with its elaborate sets and costumes. I just can't recommend any higher rating as I didn't enjoy most of it.

Library: Coquille

IMDB
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080634/

Buy the DVD from Amazon:
Divine Madness

Doctor Strange

OK, this isn't OLD, but it definitely is a soso! Apparently it's a comic that I'd never heard of and animated from Marvel Entertainment. I enjoy a good adult cartoon, but this convoluted plot and hokey story just failed to move me.

A doctor witnesses some monsters crash around a city while some strange fighters kill it. Apparently, normal people aren't supposed to be able to see this. After the emotionally unstable doctor tries to kill himself these mysterious monster fighters send him to Tibet to gain spiritual insight.

Understanding a plot doesn't necessarily mean it really makes sense. I get the good versus evil stuff, but the faith testing seemed shallow and contrived. I get Batman more. He's a rich guy with toys. Spiderman is every man thrust into the super hero role. Dr. Strange comes off as egotistical self indulgent jerk roped into fighting darkness. I didn't identify with him or care what happened.

Library: Bandon

IMDB
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0910865/

Buy the DVD from Amazon:
Doctor Strange: The Sorcerer Supreme

One Post Two Reviews

Due to my election fever I didn't get online until past midnight. I figured the post date would be Wednesday anyway so I waited till today. Tuesday's film will be watchable with a normal Wednesday soso. Enjoy!

Criss Cross

Lovers Burt Lancaster and Yvonne De Carlo get together in a plot to kill her husband and run away together. It was nice seeing De Carlo without her Lily Munster makeup. I knew she was a studio starlet but I hadn't seen her in anything before.

As a plot, the story telegraphed the probable happenings. In thrillers, I prefer unexpected twists and turns.

Maybe you're not as picky as me. Check out the DVD from Bandon. Merely watchable.

IMDB
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0041268/

Look at the reviews on Amazon:
Criss Cross (Universal Noir Collection)

Metropolis

OK, I'm only calling this less than stellar because the Coos Bay copy was poorly produced on DVD. There's a really neat version set to modern music put out several years ago. Forgive my poor skills at finding the information on that version through IMDB.

I also lowered my rating because it's very much over visual. Which is pretty much a DUH realization as it's a silent film. But there you have it.

In this future, humanity divided itself into two groups: thinkers and workers. These groups never mix until one man thinker falls for a woman worker. Those who wish to keep the two separate societies create a robot in the likeness of the girl and try and thwart the man's interest in the workers.

Much neato robot and other visual effects make the images really interesting. Though viewing them did leave me a bit confused.

Avoid the Coos Bay copy, but have a look at the North Bend DVD or Bandon's VHS copy.

IMDB
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0017136/

I figured if you wanted to buy a version of this film, Pick a good copy. This Amazon page contains tons of interesting information:
Metropolis (Restored Authorized Edition)

Soso Seconds, Two reviews.

The Day After

Inhabitants of a small Kansas town cope with life after nuclear war devastates their community. Jason Robards stars as a local doctor. He helps as best he can, but there's little he can do.

I chose not to watch this again. I saw it years ago and it's quite graphic and depressing. Yeah, that's the point. I don't consider that as the reason for calling it merely adequate. I want things I watch to enlighten me in some measure. I'm pretty sure I knew even before this film that war devastates real people.

Look in Bandon or Coos Bay for the DVD

IMDB
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0085404/

Buy the DVD from Amazon:
The Day After

The Day After Tomorrow

Dennis Quaid stars as a climate scientist who warns of an imminent weather catastrophe. This absurd film features water filling up and instantly freezing New York City. They so lost me with their action adventure special effects drivel that the only reason this isn't a dog is because the actors didn't play it campy.

It's OK as an adventure, but don't try to apply any logic to the ideas. The importance of paying attention to our planet gets so lost in this film. Thousands if not millions of people die and what are we all supposed to do? Clap at the end? Not me.

I got the library to work for this one. Bandon, North Bend, Myrtle Point, Dora and Coquille have copies of the DVD.

IMDB
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0319262/

Buy the DVD from Amazon:
The Day After Tomorrow (Widescreen Edition)

Agatha Christie Films

Death on the Nile

Some say Peter Ustinov epitomizes Hercule Poirot. I felt he left his characterization half done. None of the leads impressed me terribly much. We get a nice splash of Bette Davis, Mia Farrow and Angela Lansbury.

The director positively squandered David Niven's talent. Maybe he should have played Poirot? Would it have mattered? No. I think they just failed to put energy into the script. The sites seemed staged and unreal.

All the slight of hand showed and I figured out who shot who pretty quick. Ah well, love this kind of stuff? Head to Myrtle Point for the DVD.

IMDB
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077413/

Buy this DVD from Amazon:
Death on the Nile

Death in the Clouds

David Suchet makes a far better detective than the above lead. Though the story plodded along. A blackmailing lady dies on a plane trip. This whodunit. teased my brain and I didn't figure it out. I think more of a script that does a good job of distracting me.

If you like the genre, see TV series versions. Leave the Hollywood for later. Pick up this DVD in Coquille.

IMDB
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0398545/

Buy this DVD from Amazon:

Death in the Clouds

Day Three, Double Post Week

Confidence

I feel conned out of two hours of my time. Dustin Hoffman plays this crazy mean old crime boss who works with con artist Edward Burns, to bilk a bank out of millions.

This plays out like a typical steal from greedy bastards justifies cheating people out of money kinda films. Nothing new and interesting here. Maybe I'm jaded, but I've seen it all before and I'm sure I'll see it again. Hoffman was so over the top as to take me out of the suspension of disbelief.

Maybe I'm not world wise, I dunno. I so totally wonder if people really acted like mob bosses in these movies, if anyone would work for them. You can get killed for the smallest slight. That's just inane. Someone would see that and walk away.

Coquille has the only VHS version of this film. Look in North Bend, Bandon and Lakeside for the DVD.

IMDB
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0310910/

Buy the DVD from Amazon:
Confidence

Crash

Yep, Crash, the Academy Award winning film. I didn't like it. It takes place over two days where people have trouble with a whole bunch of race politics. It all seemed to confirm stereotypes while defending the racist attitudes. That whole, "you never know how someone came to feel the way they do," plot point. I didn't buy it.

Nothing about these people drew me into the story. Every character had a weird agenda and acted in a way contrary to realistic reactions.

I didn't like the story line jumping around in time. I found it confusing. I see why they did it, but I don't think they transitioned it well. I didn't enjoy it enough for multiple watchings it needed.

I don't even remember Sandra Bullock, but Don Cheadle and Terrence Howard are the only reason I didn't call this a dog.

You may have a different opinion. Check out Bandon, Coos Bay, Coquille, Myrtle Point and SWOCC for the DVD.

IMDB
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0375679/

Check out the information on Amazon:
Crash (Widescreen Edition)