Book + Movie List

U-571
Jeff Gadd Video 28 October 2002

Top-secret assignment these US captain and crew have to disguise themselves as Nazis and board a severely damaged Nazi U-Boat and steal the Nazi top-secret decoding device,sink the sub,and keep the Germans from finding out. Can they pull it off? Very well made and also very realistic.

Unbreakable
Mike Gadd borrowed video 31 December 2003

Not as good as Signs or Sixth Sense but a nice variation on the theme. The cinematography was too 'artsy' for some and it was slow at times, but I've been looking forward to seeing this for a second time for a couple of years. It was worth the wait.

Under the Tuscan Sun
A Bennett Milford Overlord Gigantic Cineplex 11 October 2003

From my, "Life Lessons" Notebook of Musings, the page marked, "Under the Tuscan Sun." Lesson Number One: The only way to get over being dumped by someone is to sleep with someone else who is, preferably, hotter than the person who dumped you. Lesson Number Two: Even if you are successful and well-respected in your job, responsible in your personal life, have positive effects on those around you, participate in your community, move to another country where you do not speak the language but manage to successfully renovate a home and command Polish-speaking carpenters WHILE at the same time you learn to cook fine cuisine, unite Romeo and Juliet-like lovers, make friends and support (emotionally and financially) your best friend having a baby, you will still not be considered (by yourself or others) to be successful in life until you've managed to find some version of lasting romantic love--with Christopher from Gilmore Girls.

Underworld
A Bennett AMC Newport-on-the-Levee; no popcorn this time 04 October 2003

Visually interesting to me, even though it is entirely shot in the dark, making the film seem as though all action passes in the space of a single, neverending night. I enjoyed this film, which has been pounded by critics. My position probably isn't defensible. After all, it was about 25 minutes longer than it should have been. It draws on a post-Matrix language of film. The characters tend toward mono-dimensional as much as the graphic novel genre in which the story is set. I don't find the leading man attractive. Kate Beckinsale kicked in a lot of doors. I want to know where all the lady werewolves are. I have a lot of questions that weren't answered. But I find myself still thinking about it. I really liked the heroine. Kristin complains she didn't do much--which is true, compared to a 'Charlie's Angels'-film female, she doesn't trounce a great many people on-screen with her vamp-fu. Then again, she doesn't traipse around pretending to be male eye candy, either. Selene is a rare breed of female heroine that I find myself liking; she's externally tough, taciturn, an actual thinker. Her focus is laser-sharp. She exhibits physical prowess just often enough so that you know she can mess you--and just about anyone else she wants to--up. She doesn't really have time or interest in your crap. She has a sort of sad backstory. And in the final shot, the guy follows HER off screen. Every movie doesn't need a Selene, but I enjoyed her in this one. Points for only three true Matrix-like stunt shots; in their restraint they proved more effective. Points also for stop-motion vs. CGI effects that I will, perhaps, always prefer. Points for an ending that also serves as a beginning. Points for vampiric transformations that actually are much less ugly (I'm thinking all those veins in 'Interview', and all those forehead wrinkles in 'Buffy/Angel') than they are groovy. I liked this film much more than either X-Men film--or Spiderman (sorry, Mr. Raimi!).

Underworld
Kristin Schrock Theatre 04 October 2003

My expectations were very low, so there were some pleasant surprises. Very stylish and some cool coats. However, not enough kissing and a bit too much plot. Ben, from Felicity, looks really cute in a hooded sweatshirt.

Underworld (cont'd)
A Bennett AMC Newport-on-the-Levee; no popcorn this time 04 October 2003

This review of a film so few would probably want to see is way too long. Laugh it up, Mike Gadd--the lacrosse stick's waiting to wail on you.

Underworld--Review Revisited
Kristin Schrock Theatre 10 October 2003

Just to clarify: I will NEVER, EVER, EVER want my female action heroes to be more like the "empowered" Charlies Angels. EVER. I am hurt that ABennett would suggest such a thing. When I complained (and rightly so) that Kate didn't do much--I meant that more often than not she was gripped by inaction, that the camera perhaps stayed too long on her lovely, thinking face. I think, ABennett, that we have to fight now.