Movies Seen in March 2004
Submitted by xfanatic50 on Wed, 03/03/2004 - 03:09
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- 03/03/04- The Princess Bride- There are really no words to describe how much I love this movie. It is funny, and sweet and heartwarming from beginning to end. It's well paced and the story moves quickly, powered by a great script and some truly remarkable performances. Why is Cary Elwes not a star? He's handsome and he's got a breathless charm and ease on screen which is very unique and winning. The main reason the film works though, and why I love it so much is that amidst the wit and goofy humour of it all, there are brilliantly developed characters with believable motivations and personalities, which is very rare in fantasy films. The character of Inigo Montoya in particular is just wonderful. Mandy Patinkin plays him with such earnestness and heart that you really feel for him, and are on his side throughout the film. While many people will claim the swordfight between Wesley and Inigo as classic, my favourite scene, not just in this film but in movies in general, is Inigo's defeat of Count Ruben. "You killed my father. Prepare to die." That scene is so emotional and powerful, but somehow it doesn't feel out of place in this film... and that's really what makes the movie great. This film is funny and heartfelt, and a true triumph of storytelling. 10/10
- 03/06/04- Matchstick Men- Second viewing. This film is masterfully directed, well acted and written and will keep you guessing the whole way through. Nicholas Cage's performance in this film is excellent. It reminded me as I watched it just how great an actor Cage can be. I love Sam Rockwell, and his performance was funny and perfect. The relationship between Cage's character and his daughter develops in a very real and funny way, and is the heart and soul of the film, and it was handled perfectly. The film had moments that made me laugh out loud, and moments that made me jump out of my seat. However, towards the middle of the film, my attention began to drift a little bit... but the ending of the film completely redeemed any faults the film may have run into. The ending of this film blew my mind the first time I saw it, and still blew my mind the second time. This film is clever, funny and has a surprising amount of heart. 9/10
- 03/16/04- Orange County- This is a film I've seen many times, and it never stops making me laugh. Jack Black's performance is insane, especially compared with some of his other film performances. Catherine O'Hara and John Lithgow are a hoot... the film is really, really hilarious. It takes turns you wouldn't expect, is surprisingly dark but has a real heart as well. Unlike a lot of comedies, this film is funny but also has a cool message to it... that as dysfunctional as people are, they still connect in surprising ways and love each other... and that sometimes you don't have to go very far to follow your dreams... An excellent film, one of my favourites. 10/10
- 03/23/04- Rushmore- This film is a favourite of mine. It's twisted and wickedly funny, with an off the wall sort of charm. The character of Max Fischer has to be one of the most unique characters put on film recently... driven, self-obsessed and for the most part unlikeable, and yet somehow by the end your heart is with him. Bill Murray's performance is subtle and understated, and perfect. A quirky gem of a film that I absolutely love to death. 10/10
- 03/28/04- Kramer vs. Kramer- A beautiful film, moving and very true to life. 9/10
Author Comments:
As you might be able to tell... I have an incredible soft spot for comedies. And yes there are some movies I don't like... I've just been returning to personal favourites a lot lately.
Cloned From:
It's always nice to see a glowing Princess Bride review. If you haven't seen it, the features on the Special Edition DVD are very nice too. The Andre footage and the other actors talking about him are quite poignant.
I totally agree - fantastic movie.