"Mulan" (1998)

I hope someone somewhere favors Mulan because it really is okay.  For me, I enjoyed it enough to watch it all the way through.  But it seemed to be a re-hash of "been there, done that".  It's possible that this was the "original" and I watched it out of order, but more than likely it was riding the tide of fashionable "girl saves the story and gets the guy" stories.  Even the music didn't seem like it would be that memorable.  I say all this but I repeat again, it's really not a bad movie and I hope someone somewhere favors this movie because it really is okay.

"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.

"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".

"Cold Comfort Farm" (1995)

I stalled watching this movie, then wondered why I hadn't watched it sooner.  When the movie ended, I found that I had a smile across my face.  Where did that come from?

My best guess for the stall, I think, comes from two parts.  First, I read the novel sometime back--it was part of one of my early excursions into the English literature field--and I wasn't sure how much of the novel I remembered.  There was quite a bit of "how do I figure?" going on in that early excursion, and I'm sure it colored my perceptions of those first literature experiences.  Likely that I would have different views had that first round of literature come at any other time but first, but somethin's got to be first, so that lot was as good as any--and maybe the better for it.  So, reading the novel this movie was based on was back farther than I would like.  I would've liked the novel and movie watching to be a little closer together--or perhaps have re-read the novel.  But, I decided tonight was the night to watch the movie (before it was yanked off Netflix streaming).  Was just going to watch the beginning of it (to see if there were any random animal parts falling off like in the book), but I ended up watching the whole thing.  That's a good thing.

The second reason for the stall would have to be the "DVD cover".  It was not one that did anything for me.

Delightful music, including over the end credits.  With the understanding that it's been "ages" since I've read the book, I thought the movie was well done.  I recognized the actor's name Stephen Fry in the beginning credits.  Identified actress Miriam Margoyles (Professor Sprout of the Harry Potter movie series) as Mrs. Beetle in this film.

I suppose that the ending was changed some (gotta make that book fit), but if you didn't know the novel (or if you'd forgotten most of it), then what's it matter?  Ending worked for me.

"The Prince of Egypt" (1998)

It had a disclaimer at the beginning warning about the artistic and historical license taken with the story.  I thought that was important to do, and important to do at the beginning.  It then pointed out for the true story to go read it in the Bible.  yes.  that.

Therefore, I enjoyed it.

It is a musical.  It has a nice balance of character drama.  And they did a nice job of condensing the plagues without leaving any of them out.

I don't know that I find the music any kind of special (other than subject matter).  I liked the story between brothers (Moses and Ramses) that they had in the story, and I liked Moses's various expressions, especially in the later part of the story.

"Batman & Robin" (1997)

I couldn't remember if this was a movie I'd seen before, and after it arrived I realized I had--probably when it first came out.  I watched a number of the Batman movies during that strip of time.  This is much closer in style to the Batman TV series I grew up with--overdone/melodramatic props and actions--which I didn't mind as a kid.  Made it "safe"--as in not real.

"K-9000" (1991)

A bit of a "lame" movie, yet this one has enough "hmm" in it to keep watching.  The special effects and computer scenery is a bit melodramatic--which goes along with the "lame" part--and makes it feel very 80s.  The "blood and guts" was a bit melodramatic too--and maybe some surprising since it is a TV movie.  Overall, I ended up watching the whole thing (though I did debate with myself part way through), but it come up to "eh".  I suppose that's what I get for listening too close to the one line description of the plot--yeah, that set up different expectations for the movie than what I actually got delivered.

"Restoration" (1995)

Definitely a change for the better from some of the heavier dramas I've watched recently. Definitely R-rated, and not from violence. Aside from the R-rated stuff--which I'm sure is accurate, but not my thing--it is an excellent movie.

"The Addams Family" (1991)

This one's from my "my choice" list. And it was a rewatch. :)

"Into the Woods" (1991)

a recording of a staged version of the musical "Into the Woods" [personal choice, not list generated] LOVED IT!!!! LOVED IT, LOVED IT!!!