Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on June 27th, 2004
Synopsis
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on June 27th, 2004
The USA Network series The Dead Zone is based very loosely on the early Stephen King novel or the film with Martin Sheen. Johnny still goes into a coma and comes out with psychic abilities. He even meets the infamous Senate candidate destined to destroy the world. The original tale and this surprising series ends there. This show is more about Johnny using his abilities for good whenever he can. One of the best episodes of the series, “Zion”, actually shows us why this show has varied from the original story. ...e find out that it was meeting Bruce, a physical therapist who was not in the original story, that kept him from the self-destructive path King had outlined for him.
Anthony Michael-Hall’s performance is one that has to grow on you. I have to admit I was a little put off the first couple of episodes from season one. Something about his portrayal does tend to rope you in. These episodes are light years ahead of anything from Season One.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on June 15th, 2004
With the release of Spider-Man 2 in late June, it was no surprise that Sony decided to give us an upgrade of the first film. Spider-Man was probably the best superhero film to come along since the original Superman in the late 70’s. Perhaps not as recognizable as Batman or Superman, Spidey is still quite an American icon to the millions of us who grew up during the golden age of comics.
This film is a faithful adaptation. The only real complaint I’ve heard is the tweaking of the origin story. In the comics...it was a radioactive spider, not a genetically altered one, that sank its teeth into Peter Parker. The casting is exceptional with the possible exception of Kirsten Dunst. I can’t put my finger on it, but she is the weak link of the entire picture. Law and Order’s Simmonds is a dead ringer for J.J. Jamison.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on June 12th, 2004
Synopsis
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on June 10th, 2004
Joe Queenan is one of my favorite writers. He is the author of wonderfully amusing essays and books dealing with the subject of film. In his book Confessions of a Cineplex Heckler, he is bold enough to take on the challenge of watching every Merchant Ivory film, back-to-back. At one point late in the narrative, he has this to say:
As I sat there in my reclining chair with my kids lighting matches to my feet, I realized that God had created Merchant and Ivory for only one reason: because otherwise ...he concept of death was too terrifying.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on June 9th, 2004
Synopsis
Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on June 8th, 2004
Synopsis
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on June 8th, 2004
Summer School is one of those films that I really enjoyed as a boy growing up in the 80’s. It had crazy characters, pretty girls, funny one-liners and cool people, like Mark Harmon. Watching the film today, I can honestly say that it is as good now as it was then. The only problem is, I have matured as a person and as a movie viewer. The characters are still crazy, but they are also largely annoying. The girls are still pretty, and the foreign exchange student is the same woman who played Allota Fagina in A...stin Powers, but Kirstie Alley is no longer the girl America once thought she was. There are still some great one-liners, but many of the attempts at humor fall painfully flat. And then there’s Mark Harmon. While he was cool at the time, I can now see that he most closely resembles the bastard offspring of Dave Coulier and Kevin Costner.
The film is certainly entertaining enough for a casual viewing. The premise is a simple one. Mark Harmon plays a coach who is tapped to teach remedial English in Summer School. Nobody wants to be there, but the mad cap band of misfits comes together to do what has to be done, while having fun along the way. It is a story that has been told on screen countless times, with similar results. If it weren’t for the excessive gore (provided by two students obsessed with The Texas Chainsaw Massacre) and one character dropping the “F” bomb, I’d think this was one of the never-ending stream of Disney flicks that follows this formula to mediocre glory.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on June 8th, 2004
Synopsis
Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on June 7th, 2004
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