Alex Proyas’ GARAGE DAYS is light years distant from DARK CITY. First of all, it’s a comedy. Second, it’s also a melodrama that concentrates on characters, sort of a “tale of death of youthful optimism” crossed with “sex drugs and rock ‘n roll.”
Zhang Yimou's CURSE OF THE GOLDEN FLOWER
Garish, melodramatic, architectonic, fantastic. Ultimately boring.
Alex Proyas' “DARK CITY”
This is what I wrote in my blog when, once upon a time in Indiana, I found myself working late at night with the TV turned on:
Ed Harris' APPALOOSA
I liked a lot of things about this movie:
This is a sweet comedy that doesn’t, for the most part, descend into mawkishness or treacle.
Disney's “THE BLACK CAULDRON”
A classic this isn’t, but for the fan of animation, it’s a must.
Doug Liman's JUMPER
Ignore the reviews and enjoy the movie.
James Cameron's THE ABYSS
This two-DVD special edition has more than enough material to keep an SF fan happy for days.
Kevin Lima's "ENCHANTED"
If you need something pleasant and friendly, you need look no further than Enchanted.
Steven Spielberg's MINORITY REPORT
This movie expands upon the dazzling realistic-future-world special effects of Spielberg’s A.I. but wastes astonishing technical and artistic virtuosity on a hackneyed, uninvolving murder mystery.
Jean-Jacques Annaud's “ENEMY AT THE GATES”
The cast if this WWII movie is uniformly excellent; the direction balanced, detailed, and sensitive; the photography and lighting are superb; and the set designs, stunts, special effects and general environment seem real and immediate.
The story is simple: in the early 1920’s a young German mail-order bride, gramophone in hand, comes to rural Minnesota to meet her Norwegian husband to be.
Halfway through I thought about stopping but I’ve decided to give this movie another chance after reading the Netflix reviews.
Steven Spielberg's AI: ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
I grew up with the science fiction of Clarke, Asimov, and Heinlein. At their best they wrestled with humans coming to terms with very large ideas and concepts in stories that spanned years and vast distances. I especially loved depictions of the far future.
What a delightfully twisted little film this is! What could have been a run-of-the-mill mystery is pumped up immensely by clever dialog, crisp editing and direction, and most of all, by terrific performances by Kevin Costner and William Hurt.
Brad Bird's RATATOUILLE
Number One Daughter was home for the weekend from college. We packed ourself into the family chariot and located the one theater in the Northern Virginia area that was still showing Ratatouille ($3 per ticket - cash only).
Edgar Wright's HOT FUZZ
This demonically funny comedy follows a super-competetent London cop banished to a small English town because he’s so good he’s showing up the rest of his colleagues.
Robert Rodriguez' “PLANET TERROR”
I’m usually not partial to zombie movies but I really loved this one.
Zhang Yang's “SHOWER”
This modern Chinese film is a welcome change from Summer blockbusters and slam-bang cacophony.