vbasic

IMDb member since May 2002
    Lifetime Total
    5+
    IMDb Member
    21 years

Reviews

You've Got Mail
(1998)

Strange Story Not Romantic At All
The first half of this movie was interesting as we saw the two antagonists fight it out for the hearts of book buyers. At first, it seemed that the Mega-Store would win with their amenities and low prices. But then, a public protest and media blitz shifted the public support to Kathleen's little 'Shop Around the Corner'. So I thought she was going to win, using the ideas Fox unwittingly gave her.

Instead, for reasons never explained, Kathleen gives up and closes the store. And from there it's downhill as the story shifts to his attempt to woo her without telling her the truth. It's creepy as this 'It's business, not personal' person manipulates her during her depression and illness over her loss. So what that he feels guilty about what he did? There is no way in real life someone would submissively forgive-and-forget as she did.

That's why I gave it a five. It could have worked if somehow Fox relented and figured a way for both stores to co-exist or even better, if he closed his store. It has happened in real life where Mega-Stores have been voted out of a community. So I felt crushed by this disappointing ending where evil won.

The Lucifer Complex
(1978)

Hot babes in Prison and Robert Vaughn Fight the Nazis
Fast forward the first twenty minutes where a lone man sits in front of a computer monitor looking at stock film footage of wars.

Then you will get to the actual story, a bizarre but intriguing story which takes place in the 1980s, where the leaders of various countries are being replaced by modern Nazi clones. Sort of a goofy 'Manchurian Candidate'. Agent Robert Vaughn is assigned to finding the secret base where the clones are made. At the base he finds beautiful woman held in bondage who are forced to give birth to the clones. He and the women liberate themselves in an incredible battle with machine guns, flame throwers and a tank. And in an equally bizarre climax, Vaughn confronts the mastermind who is none other than an 80 year old Hitler.

If your fast forward button is working and you like Mystery Science 3000 types of movies, then let the hilarity begin.

Dog Park
(1998)

"Dog Park" no walk in the park
I wanted to like this movie. It was an interesting concept of people meeting at a dog park as they struggled to establish relationships. There was good comedic actors and cute pooches. But since it was supposed to be a romantic comedy, I didn't see much comedy and even less romance. All the characters were struggling and not having much enjoyment in their relationships. The actors Luke Wilson and Janeane Garofalo did their job OK but were working with weak material. None of it jelled and some of the characters such as the dog trainer sounded retarded. The dialog was wimpy and desperate at times. Sad. Lame. Lame. Lame.

Fantastic Four
(2005)

Fantastic Four Movie Rocks and is Hot
I just seen the Fantastic Four movie at an early matinée 12:00 noon Friday that was crowded. I was worried that with a few fans criticizing some minor changes, it may not be good. But it exceeded my expectations. 9/10 As someone who's read the FF since the early 1960s, I can say it was faithful to Stan Lee and Jack Kirby's vision (the creators of the FF). I won't give any spoilers but I will say don't let some of these sour critics fool you. This is a well crafted tale and all the things we expect to see in an FF story were there. Pathos, Action, Humor.... all in all another well produced Marvel movie. It was so good I would have liked to have seen another action scene or two. That's why I only gave it an 9/10. Anyway don't be scared off by critics, check it out. It was action packed, had a lot of humor, some sadness, a lot of fun and great special effects. The audience seemed to like it and people applauded at the end.

Spider-Man
(2002)

Overall Excellent. But...
Wow!! This was a fairly faithful to the book movie of Spider-man and I loved it. It was a fast-paced, action-packed and fun movie. Most important, the kids loved it. SPOILER ALERT Having said all that, there was some things that should have been cut to add to the pace and be more true to the comic:

Cut 1) Ben saying he was laid off and needed a job. There was no mention of that in the comic, and besides a 68 year-old man and his wife are getting a nice SS check plus his small pension, with mortgage paid off. So it didn't make sense and dragged the pace. -cut that-

Cut 2) Having Mary Jane as his next door neighbor and the mentioning of the drunk dad. It wasn't so in the comic. They usually got together about town. That dragged the pace and made her less chic as she was in the comic. -cut that-

Cut 3) At the end at Osbornes funeral, Peter's talk with Mary Jane was too somber. Mary Jane was always more upbeat and flip with the gab. -cut that and replace it with them having a lighter conversation in town.

Now listing the things I would have cut, here are things I would add.

Scene 1 to add) In the comic book origin, when Peter headed home after been bit by the spider, he staggered out in the street and was almost hit by a car. As he leapt out the way, his body flew into a building and he stuck to the wall. That would have been a more impactful scene instead of him 'gradually' noticing his powers.

Scene 2 to add) In the movie, Peter seemed more confused and befuddled by the abuse he was taking from the other teens. But in the book he was downright ANGRY!! Notice what he says in the very first appearance of Spider-Man when they make fun of him. "Some day I'll show them. Some day they'll be sorry! Sorry that they laughed at me!"

Scene 3 to add) I would have liked to see an intermediate scene where he shows HOW he would be a crime-fighter. It seems like after the capture of Ben's killer, he jumps right into it. I would have like it to be more gradual, like maybe some petty crimes of loud kids on the bus or subway messing with the passengers, while he was in his regular clothes.

Scene 4 to add) Banter during the fights. Spidey did it all all time and it was funny. So I missed that.

But aside from that, I was happy with the film and felt that Raimi gave us a faithful adaptation.

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