"She's All That" (1999)

I normally like "Cinderella" story lines--decided I even favor them.  So, I was optimistic that I'd enjoy this film.  I was thinking it would score at least a 4 out 5, maybe even a 5.  But it scored a 3.

The storyline was indeed "Cinderella" and it had a great build up, all the way through to the high tension moment near the end. ... You know how when you watch a movie and the bad guys get it, and then you chide yourself for rooting for the demise of another human being?  Okay, maybe that's just me.  But, I'll do that.  I'll be happy the opposition got "what's coming to them" and then scold myself later.

Want to see what it would look like to have the good guys win and not parade the bad guys demise on the screen?  That would be this movie.  The good guys win, sorta, and the bad guys lose, I guess. Well, the boy and girl got together and it was pretty, but all the other--okay, most of the other stuff was left out, skimmed past, and told 2nd hand.  And then, boom, the movie is over.  And the end credit music didn't help. (More about that in a minute.)  So, the broad story line was great but the ending felt like a let down.  How do you manage to let an audience down and still have a happy ending?  Was it to avoid being cliche like every other romance in an attempt to be different?  Then wouldn't more of the movie have been different?  I don't know what's worse/better:  having a "fill in the blank" movie that is immensely satisfying, or a "we managed to do the impossible and made it unique" with what felt like a dud ending to me.  Maybe this hit somewhere between the two extremes.  The problem is then it becomes lukewarm and that is not much better.  If you're going to be different, than be different.  If you're going to be "fill in the blank," then fill in the blanks well.

There were, I suppose, a few "comic" moments.  I didn't like them.  I recognized them as "humor" but instead of even being amused (and definitely not laughing), I found myself wondering how many teenagers would be laughing their heads off at those moments.  Not me.  Get on with it.  Did I mention those moments were crass?

Side note:  lead character's little brother apparently wore hearing aids, but it never came up as any figure of dialogue, story, or even character.  So, at most, they were costume props.  That may not be a bad thing.  Maybe even good--that that sort of thing is normal and not a big deal.  Just struck me as untypical to include something like that and then do nothing with it.  And we've arrived back at the "Are they trying to be original here?" question.

So, most of the story was well done up until the conclusion.  The characters were fine.  The humor was not.  Music.

I liked the school sidewalk rap about Laney.  I'm sure the Prom dance was a matter of high interest for the teen crowd in the audience ("What moves are they doing?").  I'm not sure I felt the end credit music fit.  I will fully admit I'm not in touch with what's current--not now and not when this was filmed.  But from my own view point, the end credit music neither helped the ending soar, nor helped the audience transition back to reality.  The pud ending was followed by music that didn't seem to fit--at least not stylistically.  I can't tell you about the words.  I was too busy trying to puzzle out what I felt "my" story was missing ["Hey where's my..."] to pay attention to words.

One creative bit I did like is how they filmed the flashback early on and the one dream sequence.  The transitions to both were wonderful as well as how each fit editing-wise with the rest of the movie.  I like how both "played" with reality.  Very nice.

I don't feel like I got my end of the bargain with this movie, BUT I don't find it a waste of time either.  I just wanted a different last 15 minutes of the story.

"Legally Blonde" (2001)

I think I may have seen bits and pieces of this movie in passing (which would make this review a "revisited" one) except I'm pretty sure I hadn't seen all of it together (making it the first I've seen the whole thing).

I enjoyed this.  Light enough to not be so heavy.  No "stupid" humor, yet comedic (if you wish to see it that way).  Serious moments to balance the humorous--making it seem "real."  And "Yeah!  Got 'em!" moments to feel the story is satisfactorily finished by the end of the movie.  End credit music is appropriate.

Nice job.

"Clue" (1985)--Revisited

I watched this movie originally in theaters.  I remembered being confused initially in trying to keep straight who was who, and then the multiple endings came up and it was "hopeless."  This time I find a few mental tricks to at least help keep straight who was who.  It also helped to be able to hit pause and rewind as much as needed.  :)

I enjoyed watching this movie again.  And it is definitely one I'd probably enjoy rewatching a few more times.  Comic timing is nice and the comedy isn't over done.  (Regular readers know how seldom I say that.)  Music was kept to just the places and moments that needed it.

Well done.

"The World of Eric Carle" (1993)

These are 5 children's stories, all by Eric Carle.  Or at least I assume they're all children's stories.  I did recognize the first one (the story highlighted in some of the video titles [see below]).  I'm just assuming the rest come from the same origins.  The artwork is in the same style for all 5 stories.  The common theme for all 5 is that the world (especially nature) is beautiful and should be wondered at.  The 5th selection focused on music ("I See a Song") and art together.  None of these stories are "get in a hurry" stories.  They're stories meant to linger over and enjoy, much like being read to at bedtime where you just want the book/story to last as long as possible.  Yes, indeed, this video is like a visual bedtime story--and just as delightful.

The 5 stories:  "The Very Hungry Caterpillar," "Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me," "The Very Quiet Cricket," "The Mixed Up Chameleon," and "I See a Song"

Side note:
Netflix title:  "The Very Hungry Caterpillar".
The video's beginning credits title and the title listed on the visual cover: "The Very Hungry Caterpillar and other Stories".
The video's ending credits title and IMDB's title: "The World of Eric Carle".

"Shrek 2" (2004)

I actually laughed out loud once or twice.  That's saying something.  I quite enjoyed this movie.  I'm not going to say I laughed all the way through, because I didn't.  (I know, I know.  Picky, picky.)  Nevertheless, I enjoyed this movie.  The moment that I remember laughing to?  Puss in Boots eyes, when he uses them against the castle guard.  Let's see, I probably enjoyed the use of the "Mission Impossible" theme.  And I enjoyed seeing Captain Hook as a piano player.  Nice.

Okay.  That was a nice watch.

"Bridge to Terabithia" (2007)

I know this movie was originally a book, but it is a book I haven't read.  So, not only can I not speak to how well it is adapted, I'll be talking from the perspective of evaluating the story purely from a movie-goer's view.

This movie was a real quality movie, and a tear-jerker.  Why don't they make adult movies of this quality?  Is it that such a task is impossible?

The heartbreaks of junior high life.  The ups and downs of a coming of age.  The balancing act of fancy and reality.

And why do good friendship movies end with one friend dying or leaving?

The heaven/hell theology was atrocious in that the view stated is the view the world would like to believe, not the truth.  However, in the context of the story, it isn't dwelt on aside from it being a natural question a grieving person would ask, and the person hearing what we--both the griever and the audience--want to hear in the context of the story.  Too bad.  It wouldn't have taken much to turn it true, but would turning the story true (as in carpentry straight) would Leslie's character been unable to hold up to being consistent and believable  herself?

It was nice to see a balanced boy bullies and girl bullies in the story.

(After watching author and director commentary:)

What a difference context makes.  The real life inspiration for the story for the author--that was missing information from my view earlier/above.  It makes the story sweeter now.  And I like the view expressed (paraphrased): "If the book gets to be too much, put it down.  It will be there later.  That's the nice thing about books."  (author)

The editorial/commentary/interview also illuminated Leslie's theology as something she was "poor" in to parallel Jess's financially poor state.  Hmm....

Overall, well done, guys.  Well done.

"Ice Age" (2002)

Regular readers of this blog will already know that I have talked about my dry sense of humor before.  Therefore, it shouldn't be a surprise that I didn't laugh at most of the humor here--the humor tries too hard, or my humor has gotten drier as I've gotten older.  That being said, the story is decent, even enjoyable.  I found the beginning (how the mammoth and sloth got together) a bit forced, but once past that, the story was enjoyable--even if the humor was, well, more for others' taste.  I did enjoy it, and liked the ending.

"Fantomas IV: Fantomas vs. Fantomas" (1914)

This story is so well told.  The elements seem simple, and yet how everything is going to come about and how things are exactly going to wind up is not clear, nor is it so easy to guess.  This kind of masterful writing is hard to find these days.  What's more, it's not a cliche genre movie, at least I don't think so.  It doesn't even coin the beginnings of one.  It's part of the wonderful series of Fantomas movies--so there's more than one--, yet, it clearly stands on its own.

This French movie needed an American name.  The name they came up with "Tom Bob."  Nothing like putting two first names together to create an "authentic" American name.  :S  :)

If you haven't watched any of the Fantomas movies, you should.  This one is well worth watching.  And by telling you, "Three identical disguises from three different parties.  What could possibly go wrong?" I am giving away nothing.  You might guess where its going to go, but I predict the better majority of you won't guess, not completely correctly, anyways.  [Hey, I make predictions about your experience, can't I?]

Granted, it takes watching 1 or 2 Fantomas movies to keep track of who's who (they all seem to have dark hair and mustaches), and the Fantomas himself is in several disguises.  That's where the first "introducing the actor/character" bit at the beginning is helpful.  "This actor will have these 4 appearances."  That is helpful.  Then you can play "I spy Fantomas!" as the movie goes on.

Go.  Go watch it.  It's a well-spent hour.

"The Rescuers" (1977)--Revisited

The very first movie that I saw in movie theaters that I can actually remember the title of is The Rescuers.  I remember my Dad recounting afterwards how I'd gotten "tickled" at the chase scene near the end.  And now, X-number of years later, I still find that chase scene grinningly funny.  The only difference is then it was brand new and the here-and-now I can put words to why it was funny--or I can try.  For me, it's not the slapstick, not so much.  Instead, some of it is the unexpected.  Some of it is actually managing to capture irony.  The moment that most captures my funny bone?  When the jack rabbit snaps his fishing reel back to snag the turtle and the turtle says, "I don't need no one's help" when he very clearly does.  The turtle snaps and the jack rabbit doesn't bat an eye taking it all in stride and helps him anyway.  That's the moment that does it.  Every. Time.  lol.  :D    And the music in that section just adds to it.  Music/sound adds SO much to a movie.  Don't let anyone ever tell you otherwise.

"Meet Me in St. Louis" (1944)

It's clear that this movie was meant to showcase two things:  Judy Garland and color.  There were several scenes where Garland's attire is opposite of those around her in order for her to stand out a little more.  Who can miss the stripes when she first appears?  In the first party scene, her blue is in such a shade that it stands out against the other folks' apparel.  Later, when those surrounding here are costumed in very very festive colors, Garland is in black--which both makes her stand out and frames her face.  The house, too, is repainted (not repainted within the storyline) to best showcase each season of the year.  And, of course, who can not enjoy the dramatic depth-of-dimension of a well known alto vocalist in the age where "crooners" are highly valued.

For a musical, the plot was believeable and held the songs together well-enough.  It was curious to have the adults/older figures reprimand the younger for lying and then  would turn around and do it themselves in both the same and in other circumstances.