Good Review: A Few Good Men

A Few Good Men

Lets get the thing that bugged me out of the way first. Writer Aaron Sorkin has a problem treating women in his films as though they are three dimensional. He completely threw Demi Moore under a very fast moving bus and then backed over her.

The rest of the film stood out so much that I just have to push past the obvious sexism and call this a good film.

Playboy Navy lawyer, Tom Cruise, defends two young men accused of killing a fellow soldier. When his team, Moore and Kevin Pollak find out there's a chance that the boys were participating in a hazing type ritual ordered by the base commander, they attempt to investigate.

Col. Nathan R. Jessep, Jack Nicholson, thwarts their inquiries and treats the legal team like buffoons. When his second in command comes to them and tells them that his boss ordered the hazing, calling it a code red, they think they're set. But he kills himself before testifying against his beloved superior.

Look for outstanding performances by Kevin Bacon, Kiefer Sutherland and Noah Wyle. Their supporting roles pushed the story to its thrilling conclusions.

Please pick up this fine film at these library branches: VHS; Coos Bay, Coquille and Myrtle Point. DVD; Bandon, Myrtle Point and North Bend.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104257/

Buy this fine film from Amazon:A Few Good Men (Special Edition)

Good Review Fat: What No One Is Telling You

Fat:
What No One Is Telling You

I knew most people who lose weight gain it back and I knew some of the details of this very interesting documentary before I sat down to watch. I even know a bit more than they talk about, but this gives a nice overview of the science behind weight loss.

One young man talks with a doctor about gastric bypass and ends up deciding to go that route. Another woman exercises hours a day in order to maintain her figure. Doctors talk about the bodies resistance to letting go of weight and how they're having serious problems finding solutions to the complex multi-system disease.

A few months back I reviewed Who Killed the Electric Car? and they had a list of causes for the death of the EV-1. This film explores the mainly medical aspects but with a few environmental factors figured in. One of the doctors believes the gut acts like a brain of sorts. He found out it has millions of nerve endings and researches how these play a role in obesity.

They talk about how large portions and use of sugary drinks helped increase our waistlines. How processed foods and convenience items deny our bodies nutrients so it wants MORE in order to get the minor amounts it needs. Creating a cycle of fat strage and starvation. Bet you never thought about a large person starving to death.

Pick up this fine film from SWOCC and North Bend and find all out about this fascinating topic.

IMDB:http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1007001/

Buy this DVD from Amazon: Fat - What No One Is Telling You

Good Review: Seven Pounds

Seven Pounds

A friend recommended this tearjerker and I thought I'd pick it up. Though you wont "love" this film it WILL make you think. Will Smith draws us in wondering what kind of an asshole he's playing. We see him badger a blind man, Woody Harrelson, for no good reason. Then he calls on a sick man running a nursing home.

As the story unfolds, it's clear there's some kind of memory of something gone terribly wrong with his life. Flash backs of a woman, wealth and workaholic aerospace entrepreneur show a vastly different more confident nicer human. Why would such a man turn into a jerk IRS agent.

When he starts investigating beautiful Rosario Dawson who needs a heart transplant, we start to get a creepy feeling this is going somewhere weird. They begin flirting and she shows him the intimacies of her business. One of her old printing machines needs repair and he sneaks in and fixes it while she's asleep.

What would you do for love? What would you do to appease your guilt? Though painful to watch, I found the story riveting.

Check this DVD out from Bandon, Coquille, Dora, Lakeside, Myrtle Point, North Bend, Powers and SWOCC. I guess Coos Bay needs to get a copy too.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0814314/

Buy this DVD from Amazon: Seven Pounds

Good Review: Fallen Angel

Fallen Angel

I find it rare to see a story told out of order work so well. This BBC mini series tells the tale in three distinct parts, starting with the most recent events and going to the oldest.

We see the life of a young woman unravel to the point where she kidnaps a little girl, but her motives stem from her own childhood resentments. As the tale goes on, we see more how the older members of her family failed to get her the mental help she needed.

Emilia Fox plays the title role as Rosie 'Angel' Byfield. She manipulates a pedophile into helping her kidnap little girls and finally plots to take the daughter of her rival. In the second episode, we see her as a young woman struggling with a new stepmother and a mysterious drug using boyfriend. Finally, we see her childhood where her mother kills herself after being suspected of stabbing senile grandpa.

We need all three episodes for a complete picture of who this girl becomes. Each tale shines a light on a different corner of her mind, but leaves enough up in the air to draw us to the next part. It explores side plots of working mothers, relationship dynamics and faith without ever pushing any topic in your face.

Check out this intriguing drama from Coquille.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0939235/

Buy it from Amazon: Fallen Angel

Good Review:

Fast Food My Way
with Jacques Pépin

Normally, I leave off the how to DVDs, but I wasn't sure what this film was about so I selected and THEN found out it was Jacques Pepin. He's a funny very French chef that's been around cooking shows for ages.

He's friendly and encourages us to try new and interesting dishes. Though I haven't tried any of the dishes from this program, I did try once to make stuffed chicken breast with plum sauce. I could have done better, but no one got sick. Yay me.

North Bend and SWOCC have copies of what might be the same program, but they have different data so I can't tell for sure. Then there's a book that would probably be the most helpful for cooking. Pick that up from Bandon

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0475912/

Buy this fine cooking DVD from Amazon: Jacques Pepin Fast Food My Way

Good Review: Failure to Launch

Failure to Launch

Parents Kathy Bates and Terry Bradshaw can't get Matthew McConaughey out of the house so they enlist fake girlfriend Sarah Jessica Parker to give him an incentive. The trouble is, she really falls for the goofy guy, and he still maintains his commitment issues.

I might have rated this higher, but the whole subplot about nature hating McConaughey's character turned me off. I didn't like the campy way animals kept biting him. Everything else made me laugh and feel for these parents and the childish guy friends.

Zooey Deschanel charms as Parker's quirky roommate. I just can't say how much I love Bates and she just proves how much she deserved Oscar notice. Watch out for Terry Bradshaw's naked behind though. This film isn't for kiddies. It's funny as hell and part of the plot, but I probably could have done without seeing naked old man butt.

Look in Bandon, Dora, Myrtle Point and North Bend.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0427229/

Buy this DVD from Amazon: Failure to Launch (Special Collector's Edition)

Good Review: Escape to Witch Mountain

Escape to Witch Mountain

I dig this Disney classic for its weird alien kiddie plot. Tia and Tony exhibit telekinetic and other mental special powers as they traverse the countryside trying to make their way to get picked up by their space faring relatives.

They're being chased by a millionaire who noticed their powers and wants to use them for no good. Eddie Albert reluctantly helps them find their way to the mountain.

Yep, it's silly and campy and far fetched but for all these reasons I enjoyed it totally. Safe for the whole family. Bring back a memory from your own past and show your kids this cute little film DVD and VHS copies in Coos Bay and Myrtle Point. Never seen it yourself? All the more reason to pick it up.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0072951/

Buy this DVD from Amazon: Escape to Witch Mountain Special Edition

Good Review: Equilibrium

Equilibrium

This film kind of combines elements from 1984, The Matrix and even a little Fahrenheit 451 thrown in for good measure. Christian Bale stars as a kind of censorship cop who breaks up gangs of people who read and refuse to take their "stay calm meds" He trains to fight the bad guys and once he stop taking his own dose, he goes after the big brother style leader who tells everyone what to think.

Even though the concepts are old, they executed this film in ways that entertain throughout. It took turns I didn't expect. Sure it's on the low end of what I call good, but I enjoyed it. So would a teen I think.

Bandon has the only copy of this interesting DVD.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0238380/

Buy this film on DVD from Amazon: Equilibrium

Good Review: Extreme Alaska

Extreme Alaska

I really enjoyed this enlightening documentary of the modern history of Alaska. It outlined stories about the great earthquake and tsunami of 1964 and the building of the Alaska oil pipeline and truck highway to service the oil fields. I'd never heard of the Japanese invasion of the Aleutian Islands during World War II, but I did know intrepid bush pilots helped open the interior of the territory. Seeing their real stories brought me into thier history in a new way.

I loved the stories of the native people who helped oust the Japanese from Attu and Kiska islands. It goes to show that you want someone to do something, send someone who knows the terrain and how to survive. It saddened me to hear of so many soldiers dying not from battle but from poor weather gear. All the native guides and trappers survived.

I find many times the History Channel shows all tell stories of war. Though this has a little known segment of a war story, most of it talks about regular people's lives or the business of oil production. Pick up the DVD from Dora.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0827169/

Buy this DVD from Amazon: Extreme Alaska DVD Set

Good Review: Enemy at the Gates

Enemy at the Gates

Jude Law finds himself on a Russian battlefield trying to take out a German commander from very far away. His comrade, Joseph Fiennes, whispers, "time your shot with the explosion. " Boom, one German officer down, BOOM another.

Though they barely had enough to eat and command sacrificed foot soldiers by the thousands, Russia held the city named for their leader. Sniper Vassili Zaitsev. Law's charcter, became their greatest asset. Germany sent in their best shooter to take him down.

Ed Harris comes to town as Major König and enlists the aid of a Russian boy to attempt to manipulate his sniper rival into a trap. But the boy plays both sides.

Add Rachel Weisz as a love interest for Law and we have a war movie like no other. And despite being under used Bob Hoskins shows up as Nikita Khrushchev. How far wrong can you go with that?

This felt more like a psychological thriller than just another film about World War II. I liked the different point of view and recalling a time when Russia was an ally.

Check it out from Bandon, Coquille and Myrtle Point on DVD and Myrtle Point and Dora on VHS.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0215750/

Buy this DVD from Amazon: Enemy at the Gates

Good Review: Iron Man

Iron Man

I know Robert Downey Jr. has loads of talent but this boffo action extravaganza didn't tax his abilities too far. Jeff Bridges worked harder. No worries though, it all worked.

Weapons maker Tony Stark gets overconfident and thinks he rules the world when he finds himself captured by some non descript middle east terrorist group. Being a genius he naturally escapes by building himself first an energy generator, then an iron rocket powered suit. He enlists the assistance of a fellow captive medical doctor.

I felt the story and Downey's acting could have been better. With typical sexist comic book rules, his trusty personal assistant stands around and looks pretty. Oh she gets to scream at appropriate moments to towering effect, but Gwyneth Paltrow could have done this role in her sleep. Maybe she did. As long suffering Pepper Potts, of COURSE she's in love with her boss. Eyeroll.

Yes, this is a good film anyway. I liked the action and contrast between the character at the start of the film and how he began to modify his life by the end. Definately a good pop corn action flick. Check out Bandon, Coquille, Myrtle Point and SWOCC for copies of this wiz bang DVD.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0371746/

Buy this DVD from Amazon: Iron Man (Two-Disc Special Collectors' Edition)

Good Review: Who Killed the Electric Car?

Who Killed the Electric Car?

Starting in the mid 90's electric cars appeared on California roadways. One major modern effort began with auto conglomerate General Motors. They called their new no emission vehicles the EV-1.

Environmentalists praised them and heralded the age of no pollution vehicles. But when the California air quality board stopped requiring such stringent standards, GM decided to abandon the project.

This film asks if the car companies ever had any intentions of really producing them. Did GM and others have close ties to big oil? Was the battery technology just not there yet?

Why did they take them back from the lease holders and crush them and shred the data? I mean why would anyone want to just ignore research?

I remember seeing the EV-1 commercials and thinking, what are they selling here? They seemed like they were calling for the end of humanity. Eerie and surreal, yeah.. great marketing ploy there GM.

Have a watch and it'll make you wonder what was going on. I might have placed this in the Gem category, but I still had questions after it was over.

Look in Bandon, Coos Bay and North Bend for this fascinating DVD.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0489037/

Buy this intriguing DVD from Amazon: Who Killed the Electric Car?

Good Review: Fingersmith

Fingersmith

A few months back someone suggested this was a better film than Affinity and they were right. Simply speaking, the filmograpy made for a lighter less dreary viewing. I wanted to be with them on the English countryside. I wanted to touch the beautiful gowns the women wore.

We view this in two parts. First we see a young pickpocket girl sent to dupe a young somewhat privileged girl of her fortune. A "gentleman" introduces the pickpocket to her as a maid.

These women become close friends and eventually intimate in what might be lovers if the one girl weren't trying to cheat the other. Tasteful lesbian scenes that made sense within the context. If you're looking for something pornographic, this wont suit.

The well to do young woman lives with her rather creepy uncle who deals in pornographic material. He's trained her as his secretary, so she has a truly warped view of the world. She has no idea that she would receive an income if she should marry.

Eventually she agrees to marry the "gentleman" and with her maid's help they go off to a cottage for their first night. The man and pickpocket/maid plot to drive his wife mad and put her in an insane asylum.

(SPOILER ALERT)

The doctors talk to both the maid and her mistress and encourage the man to bring his wife right away to spend some time getting "cured." As the carriage takes all three to the nut house the maid is captured and dragged inside while the lady sits calmly refusing to meet her gaze.

I liked that the first half they did NOT telegraph this AT ALL. It took me by surprise. In the second half of this fine film we see that the privileged young woman wanted to escape her degrading uncle and the "gentleman" proposed the whole replace her with the maid scenario.

Plots twist and turn and conspirators turn out to be family. The clever maid manages an escape of the asylum and envisions revenge on the man and woman. It seems everyone does these women a wrong turn.

I've already spoiled the major plot twist, I'll just leave the ending for a viewing. If you like Dickensian drama with intrigue and betrayal, this will hold your interest. The lesbian action is limited to a few scenes in the first half. It's quite tastefully done and romantic, rather than titillating. And you just have to love the play on words, Fingersmith?? Too funny.

Look in bandon for this fine DVD.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0423651/

Buy this DVD from Amazon: Fingersmith

Good Review: E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

A young boy finds a strange little alien in this backyard and he hides it in his bedroom. Soon his siblings and he figure out the alien wants to fix his ship and go home. "E.T. phone home." became a huge catch phrase for the early 1980s.

The big bad military finds out about E. T. and want to dissect him, but the kid and his friends help him. In later copies director Steven Spielberg had the guns the military used digitally changed into walkie talkies. Some think it's a big deal, I really don't care. It's his film, he can do what he likes.

The boy and alien develop a friendship that can't help but charm all but the most hardened heart. Mostly safe for kiddies, but if you have any doubts, view it yourself first. There's a little funny juvenile language that you might not want them picking up.

Find the DVD in Coos Bay (though in mending), North Bend and SWOCC. So far I've seen VHS tapes in Bandon, Coos Bay, Coquille, Dora, Lakeside and North Bend. It's an old movie so don't depend on them being in good shape.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083866/

E.T. - The Extra-Terrestrial (Widescreen Edition)

Good Review: Enchanted.

Enchanted

I'm a happy person. I like stories that inspire and tickle my senses. I don't see the world as a scary foreboding place. Some say that *I* live in fantasy land, but I think life is just what you decide it is.

Amy Adams plays an animated fairy princess who finds her prince then his evil queen step mom tosses her into reality. Life goes pretty well for her and she keeps some of her fairy powers, but has to deal with the realities of dodging cars and having no place to stay.

Enter reality prince. Patrick Dempsey has a little girl and a girlfriend he likes and he happens upon our damsel in distress trying to knock on the door of a billboard castle. He brings her to his New York apartment and she ends up charming her way into staying the night.

In the morning she sings to all her woodland creature friends (rats, pigeons and roaches) and they show up to help her clean the apartment. Then she makes a dress for herself out of curtains. It's priceless seeing the pattern holes in the draperies.

Finally her prince shows up into reality. Her chipmunk friend, Pip, told him she fell down there. When Pip joins the prince he can no longer talk. When the evil step queen's assistant shows up he can't get through to the prince.

I enjoy how fantasy bleeds into reality. I didn't think Adams quite pulled off the singing and dancing role with as much style as someone else might have. And none of the songs stuck in my head.

The end sequence looked neat but kinda brought me out of the exuberance of the film. Susan Sarandon materializes into reality as the evil step queen who turns herself into a giant dragon.

You'll find this good film suitable for the whole family. Girls, young and old, will apprecaite it more than men. Look in Bandon, Coos Bay, Coquille and Myrtle Point for the DVD.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0461770/

Amazon: Enchanted (Widescreen Edition)

I'm posting this without an edit, so if you see a flaw leave a comment and I'll fix it.

Movie Review: Elephant Man

Elephant Man

A doctor pays a freak show proprietor for the right to show severely disfigured man to his students. When the doctor, Anthony Hopkins, finds out the proprietor beats the disabled man, he takes him into the hospital to help him heal.

We found through the course of events, the man isn't mentally disabled, just trapped in a misshapened body. He quotes the bible and begins to read and the doctor helps him dress and care for himself. His docotr published a newspaper article on his efforts to help his friend and a local actress wishes to meet him.

We're struck by the change in circumstances, yet the disabled man still appears as a freak show specimen. Only now the class of gawkers rises to the level of high society.

Things go very wrong when a scoundrel inside the hospital invades the man's room with a bunch of ruffians from a local pub. Among them the former freak show proprietor who kidnaps his former charge. There's more but I don't want to spoil the ending.

Director David Lynch makes good use of black and white filmography creating the illusion that this film came from a long time ago. Though it is 30 years old, we had plenty of color back then. Certainly this floats right on the edge to being a gem. I found a few sections just a bit slow for my taste. Please feel free to leave a comment with your feelings. It certainly garnered lots of nominations and awards.

Well worth your time to watch. I hope you learn more about compassion for people different from ourselves. SWOCC has the DVD but look in Coos Bay and Powers for the VHS.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080678/

Buy this fine DVD from Amazon: The Elephant Man

Movie Review: Ellen DeGeneres, The Beginning

Ellen DeGeneres,
The Beginning

I saw this a couple weeks ago and so don't remember the jokes, just remember that it's an HBO comedy special it seems from before her talk show. Quite funny and a lot of material I hadn't seen before.

I know very short review. You'll have to find a way to cope.

Bandon has the only copy of this DVD.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0251070/

Buy the DVD from Amazon: Ellen Degeneres - The Beginning

Movie Review: Religulous

Religulous

Controversy thy name is Bill Maher. This "mockumentary"asks questions about deeply held belief in the bible and world religions. Though he concentrates on United States Politics, he does go to Israel and the Vatican.

He tosses around some statistics on people who "don't believe" and I'm a little skeptical of the numbers. While it may be people who take surveys may say they choose no faith, that doesn't mean they all agree how that should look. He argues that such people make up 16 percent of the population and yet have no lobby in Washington.

I do love Maher. I think he mocks some folks when it's just as easy to let them alone. Though I do think he brings up lots of really good points. I question everything. I appreciate thoughtful balanced discussion of all topics. I do admire director Larry Charles for leaving in when people stormed off during a discussion.

Look for this thought provoking film in Bandon, Coos Bay and North Bend.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0815241/

Buy the DVD from Amazon: Religulous

Movie Review: Ed Wood

Ed Wood

Never one to walk away from quirky roles, Johnny Depp stars as the impatient and arguably "worst director in the world." Mr. Wood's sincere interest in filmmaking drove him to direct an interesting series of not even C series stories with convoluted plots and down and out actors.

Many consider his 1959 epic, Plan 9 from Outer Space, the worst film ever made. As interpreted by director Tim Burton, that film only got made piecing together funding, actors and plot from diametrically opposing interests. Wood had to content with his star dying mid-filming He became convinced someone he knew looked like the actor from the nose up and cast him in the role. We can tell when this character does scenes as he holds up his arm across his lower face.

One claim to Wood's fame is befriending veteran vampire actor Bela Lugosi. Martin Landau won an Oscar for playing the aging horror star. Taking on a convincing accent and drug addiction, Landau makes us pity the nearly forgotten wretched soul. Depp also shines as the dippy Wood.

I've only seen a couple of the original Wood films. They're barely watchable, but have a strange charm. Like watching your child's play at school. You want to laugh at how bad it is, but the effort is so sincere.

Pick up a copy of this DVD in Coos Bay. It's so good I'm surprised that's the only place it's available.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0109707/

Buy this fine DVD from Amazon: Ed Wood (Special Edition)

Movie Review: Eddie Izzard: Definite Article

Eddie Izzard: Definite Article

This featured Eddie at his best doing stand up. I find it interesting that he gets himself off on some tangent and has to think back to where he was so he can continue his routine. Messing up makes him even funnier. I like how it humanizes him.

Lets face it, the guy is a bit of a freak. You gotta like him, which I do. Apparently there's a way to bleep out all the swearing. That might be a funny thing to watch, but I didn't try it out. Maybe it's even funnier that way, I dunno.

He appears on stage in front of a giant book, and I don't know what's said on the pages because of my sight. If someone knows, I'd be delighted to learn.

Bandon has the only copy of this comedy special. If you're new to him, Try Circle first. I found that better than this or Dress to Kill. Though he's more famous for Dress to Kill.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116066/

Buy this DVD from Amazon: Definite Article