Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on February 27th, 2003
Synopsis
Welcome to Oceania in 1984, the last word in totalitarian regimes. Winston Smith, a lowlevel functionary, engages in two kinds of thought crime: he falls in love, and he questions BigBrother. The film is as compellingly and utterly bleak as the novel. The vision of future isactually a vision of the past: Oceania is a worst-case version of late-40s Britain. This approach isbrilliant, because, as a result, the film does not date, and its chilling warning, in these days ofTota...
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on February 26th, 2003
I doubt the makers of the current Daredevil film took one look at Glory Daze and said, "We've got to have that guy." Glory Daze is a mindless romp through the last weeks of a group of frat-like college students. If you're interested in plots, solid acting, and quality cinematography, this really isn't your film. If, however, a cheap imitation of Animal House sounds like a good way to spend an hour and a half, look no further.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on February 26th, 2003
Synopsis
A city vamp seduces a country man and convinces him to kill his wife. At the moment heis about to commit the crime, he finds he cannot go through with it. We then follow the husbandand wife through the course of their reconciliation. Put this way, the film sounds flat and boring,but the poetry of its simplicity, imagery and performances is overwhelming. (There’s a stormsequence that must be one of the greatest storms in the movies.) This is emphatically one of thegreat clas...
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on February 25th, 2003
Synopsis
Irascible Scottish scientist James Mason discovers evidence that an explorer made thejourney of the title. Determined to do likewise, Mason sets off for Iceland (there to descend avolcanic crater that will lead to the centre of the Earth) in the company of Pat Boone (whoseaccent must be heard to be believed). Along the way, they are joined by feisty widow ArleneDahl and towering Icelander Peter Ronson. They are not alone in their journey, however, andthey must confront huma...
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on February 25th, 2003
Synopsis
The time is 80,000 years ago. Our focus is tribespeople who value fire deeply, but do notknow how to make it. When they are attacked by a rival, far more simian, group, they lose theirfire. A trio of friends (Everett McGill, Nameer El-Kadi, and Ron Perlman, a man who doesn’tneed much make-up to look prehistoric) head off on a search for new fire. During theirquest, they encounter a cannibal tribe, and hook up with Rae Dawn Chong, a prisoner of thecannibals and member of a m...
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on February 25th, 2003
Why is there yet another DVD of Stargate? This time it really is an improvement. The Ultimate Edition contains a director’s cut which is about 16 minutes longer than the original. If you like the original better, a second disc is included which contains the original cut. This was Devlin and Emmerich’s first real blockbuster. I found Independence Day and The Patriot to be better films, but Stargate has its moments. It’s a little hard for me to accept Kurt Russell as Jack O’Neal after 7 years of Richard Dean Anderson.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on February 23rd, 2003
Road House is one long bar brawl interrupted occasionally by a thread of a plot line. Patrick Swayze is the offered marquee name, but better performances can be found from Ben Gazzara, best known for his portrayal of Al Capone, Sam Elliott, and even Kevin Tigue. The music is the only thing that keeps this one interesting. Jeff Healey stars as the bar’s regular musician and treats us to some of his best music.
Synopsis
Daulton (Swayze) is hired to clean up a rowdy redneck bar.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on February 23rd, 2003
Film
Let’s at least give the filmmakers credit for getting right to the point. Unfortunately you’ll spend the next 80 minutes or so wishing they hadn’t. The film is full of enough plot holes to pilot a starship through (one of the big ones). You get the sense right away that the characters really can’t stand each other, but then you’re expected to believe that one year after pissing each other off they’re going to get together for an intimate New Year’s Eve gathering. There’s an obvious attempt at th...
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on February 23rd, 2003
Like most folks, I grew up on the Charlie Brown TV specials. What kid hasn’t looked forward to seeing “The Great Pumpkin”? Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown was made more recently then the more notable Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Halloween episodes. The whole Peanuts gang is there and so is most of the charm. The idea just isn’t as compelling; it comes off rather forced. Still, it’s always fun to visit the world of Charles Schultz.
Synopsis
Poor Charlie Brown is dreading another Valentine’s Day.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on February 23rd, 2003
Synopsis
Gary Sinise (who also produced and directed) is George, the smart one. John Malkovich (in arole light years from his usual creepy venom) is Lennie, child-like but enormously strong. Thetwo best friends wander Depression-era California, looking for work. They find what seems likea long-term gig at the Tyler Ranch, but trouble rears its head in the form of the unhappy SherilynFenn, trapped in an abusive marriage. It isn’t long before everything goes to hell.
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