“Bambi II” continues the story of the fawn. It took over 60 years for the sequel but the story is similar. The colors are muted and the background is hazy. The moral is that fathers should take responsibility for children (which would have went over like a lead balloon 60 years ago). There are some sequences that could upset very sensitive children. Since it is basically for young children, you can understand the decision to not have a theatrical release since there would be a limited audience.
GRADE = “B+”
What were your worst films of 2005?
Of the approximately 100 films I saw, here’s my list in alpha order -
Bewitched
Devil’s Rejects
It’s All Gone, Pete Tong
Just Friends
Kicking & Screaming
Lot Like Love, A
Perfect Man, The
Shopgirl
Stealth
“The Family Stone” is one to skip if you have seen the trailer (because it contains just about all of the good scenes). Mostly a comedy, it is a Christmas movie where the 7 core members of a family get together along with children, spouses, and lovers. There are some serious moments which seem to have been added to give some of the actors work. You can see the ‘twists’ coming from a mile away. Best bet is to wait for rental.
GRADE = “C+”
“Match Point” is Woody Allen’s variation on “An American Tragedy a.k.a. A Place in the Sun”. Story deals with an opportunist who decides he must eliminate a pregnant lover. Performances are fine but the music is irritating. Bottom line = Crime pays.
GRADE = “C+”
“On the Outs” tells about the lives of three young women from the New Jersey slums. They meet in prison and later their lives intersect. A sort-of chick flick in that all of the males in the film are useless. Drugs are a key factor in each of the lives. Primary reasons to see this amateurish movie are the performances of the three lead actresses. Tends to fall apart at the end. This R-rated film is, of course, not for children but don’t tell that to the various morons who exposed youngsters at the advance screening to oral sex, drug use, kids with guns, and the game of Russian Roulette (played for laughs).
GRADE = “B-”
Shelley Winters, who re-invented herself many times, has died today (1/14) at age 85.
Tomorrow on TCM at 2 PM you might watch her in “A Place in the Sun”. If you do, notice the similarilities of this 1951 film with “Match Point”.
Movie will also be shown on 28th and 29th. She was nominated for an Academy Award for this performance. Later, she did win 2 Oscars.
“Tristan + Isolde” is an epic of doomed love, treachery, and war in the British Isles after the collapse of the Roman Empire. Some of it is a bit of a stretch, but does move right along. Basically a serious movie with flashes of humor; violent, with gore kept to a minimum.
Tristan + Isolde = old fashioned romantic adventure.
GRADE = “B”
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