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reviews in brief.
The Last Samurai R.144 minutes, South Wind 12
Poor Tom Cruise, he just can't seem to go beyond himself into a world where one forgets that he is Tom Cruise. Not that this is a terrible thing; case in point Jerry Maguire. But in The Last Samurai when he is playing someone that is supposed to be so dramatically different from our modern icon, I had hoped I could forget "I feel the need for speed" Tom Cruise and see a new character be born but alas I was disappointed.
On all other fronts The Last Samurai is fantastic. Cruise plays Nathan Algren, an American soldier skilled in battle against "savages" who is brought to Japan to train the emperor's army in Western warfare. Their new enemies are the once-cherished Samurai, headed by a charismatic but deadly man named Katsumoto (Ken Watanabe), who captures Algren during an opening scuffle between the two forces. Trapped in the beautiful samurai village, Algren learns the samurai ways and learns to appreciate the people including Katsumoto's sister Taka (Koyuki), until he is fighting right along side them.
Directed by Edward Zwick (Glory), the film is beautifully shot and is epic in all possible ways. Cruise is always a pleasure but the real star is Watanabe, whose warrior exterior and poet interior
collide to make one of the most captivating characters in a truly mesmerizing and remarkable film.
Lindsey Ramsey Grade: A-
Bad Santa
R. 91 minutes, South Wind 12
Holiday movies exist in order to brighten up the holiday movie season. In the case of Bad Santa, we see a film that does not brighten the holiday season but burns it down like a small child playing with fire.
In Bad Santa, Billy Bob Thornton plays Willie, a swearing, smoking, mess of a mall Santa, whose thirst for alcohol is matched only by his thirst for women. Why does he do it? Because he and his elf counterpart (Tony Cox) are after the department store safe, which only Willie can crack.
Come Christmas, they find themselves under a prissy manager (the late John Ritter) and a watchful security guard (Bernie Mac). But it only takes a lovable fat kid (Brett Kelly) to make Willie have even a shred of real feeling.
This is not one of those movies where "kid's love changes grumpy man," but it is a hilarious black comedy in which I was left hoping that the child involved wasn't permanently scarred from all the
Tom Cruise plays a Civil War soldier in his latest effort, "The Last Samurai."
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foul language and dark deeds that make for a very Bad Santa.
—Lindsey Ramsey
Grade: B
The Cat in the Hat PG. 82 minutes, South Wind 12
There once lived a man named Seuss whose books were quite groovy. Now these children's stories are being whored-out as movies.
The latest tale to hit the screen is of a cat with a hat whose humor's obscene.
The original book was quite charming. But this version's cat is actually alarming.
His humor will appeal to the occasional fool
Mike Myers, comic genius some say delivers a cat wrapped in stereotypes of the gay.
or perhaps the students in middle school.
The book helped the young ones read. This film just fills Myers' attention need.
The acting is OK, in fact Dakota Fanning could become great
it's just too bad she's been type cast at age 8.
Though the special effects are eye honey, it seems Universal and DreamWorks only want your holiday money.
In the directorial debut of Bo Welch, the talent of Alec Baldwin he did squelch.
This thespian's comedic acting could not save
this film that will have Seuss spin in his grave.
Do not bother to give this film a look Just sit down and reread the book.
Cal Creek Grade: C-
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Mike Myers brings Dr. Seuss' title character to life in "The Cat in the Hat."
The Haunted Mansion PG.99 minutes.South Wind 12
While these allusions render The Haunted Mansion too disturbing for youngsters, director Rob Minkoff (Stuart Little) spins darkly magical, storybook visions for adults. The house is the real star, with Eddie Murphy and Marsha Thomason reduced to window dressing within the film's immaculate production design.
Filmmakers seem to have been heavily influenced by classic horror literature such as Dracula and The Masque of the Red Death, as well as The Breathing Method, Stephen King's gruesome short story about an evil butler with supernatural designs.
In Disney's visually lustrous The Haunted Mansion, husband-and-wife real-estate agents Jim and Sara Evers visit a big Victorian spread with their kids. Hoping to make a deal with Master Gracey, the mansion's mysterious owner, Jim and Sara end up as pawns in a plot to lift a curse on the house and restore the master's one true love.
Though Minkoff never scales the heights reached by Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, he does offer one of the most startling revelations of the movie year: Theme-park attractions make for sleek cinematic thrill-rides.
—Stephen Shupe
Grade: B-
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jayplay
thursday, december 4, 2003