Kung Pow: Enter the Fist (2002)

Remarkably hysterical send-up of old martial arts films…owes a lot to "What's Up Tiger Lily" for the idea of recording new sound over old film. I'm also thinking I noticed the influence of StrongBad from Homestarrunner.com – I’d wager Oedenkirk’s a fan.

So many sequences are pee-your-pants funny that the scenes that don’t work are all the more glaring (e.g. the cow fight). The first movie in a few years to hand us new family catch-phrases.

B

Man of the Century (1999)

Great idea – guy with 1920s sensibilities existing in the present-day New York – that wears thin before it runs out. Also, the New York surrounding Johnny Twennies seems a bit too in-step with his fantasy world (with the exception of his girlfriend, but why is he "crazy about" her, anyway?).

D

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)

Touching story of a good man honorarily appointed to a seat in the Senate only to become disillusioned but quick. Stewart is wonderful and Arthur isn't bad, either…but her voice is just as awful as always. The hearing scene, where Stewart is defamed, is just heartbreaking.

A-

The Disorderly Orderly (1964)

I guess the forced craziness that is Jerry Lewis works for some people. For me, the script would need a helluva lot more charm than this to make it a winner. Lewis mugs excessively and loves the wrong girl, but it all works out in the end. The end chase almost makes this worthwhile.

C-

The Keys of the Kingdom (1945)

Tremendously inspiring and altogether lovely film about a priest who believes himself to be a humble failure – but we see in flashback that he is anything but. He serves as a vivid example of what servants of Christ should be, especially in regard to self-importance. I cried at the end and enjoyed the tears greatly.

A

In the Mood for Love (2001)

Intensely sad/romantic movie that dares to leave the leads unfulfilled.

B+

Legend (1986)

Wretched in every way. Just a complete muddle of stupid ideas and imagery.

F

Road to Utopia (1946)

Pure, silly fun. The jokes fly fast and hilarious.

B+

Never on Sunday (1960)

Reminded me a little too much of church life with the well-meaning guy who knows how everyone should be living and demands their unhappiness if they're not "living right." Kinda funny in that way.

B

Summer of Sam (1999)

Started promisingly enough, but pushed my tolerance as the film seemed to be on a loop…just showing more of the same. Vinnie's a lothario; the Italians are a dumb gang; Richie's a porn punk; Dionna's a frustrated wife; Berkowitz wants the dog to stop barking. Yeah, we know. Can we speed things up a bit?

D

The Shop on Main Street (1966)

A Czechoslavakian peasant quietly rolls his eyes at the new Nazi movement in his town. When he's appointed the Aryan leader of a Jewish shop, he's dragged into the fray full force and finds he can't easily stay on the fence anymore. He watches. He winces. He hopes nothing will be expected of him. An amazing bit of acting by the lead man, as he tries to do what he knows stronger men could do, as he attempts to rekindle the fire in his soul and finds it too long cold to revive.

A

Cops and Robbersons (1994)

They should have pumped up the comedy so that it would be noticeable. I felt like I had to work a little too hard to find the laughs and way too hard to hear Palance's lines. OK for a one-time-only viewing.

C-

It Could Happen to You (1994)

Better than I remembered, but still on the "thumbs-down" side. It's sloppy in the "Mannequin" way and full of obvious situations with no character shadings. Fonda pulls off the interesting combo of bland & endearing. Perez is one-note...hell – everyone's one-note in this movie.

C

Doctor Dolittle 2 (2001)

Much funnier than I was expecting, mostly due to Steve Zahn as Archie the bear. A distinct improvement upon the first – I laughed quite a bit while watching. The boys really liked it, too!

B-

Gone in 60 Seconds (2000)

Only passes muster because I watched it with my easily amused (as long as things are blowing up or at least going really really fast) husband. Ridiculous "oh man, we only have a tiny bit of time to get a gonzo number of cars" plot that moves along fast enough that it doesn't seem as dumb as it is. I didn't loathe it, is what I'm saying, and Delroy Lindo's always cool.

C+

To Be or Not to Be (1983)

Amusing (at times) story of a Polish theater troupe during WWII. Too muted to be the riot it wants to be.

C+

Nicholas and Alexandra (1971)

Despite its interminable length, couldn't help being a wee bit interesting. I wonder how true-to-life it is.

C+

Rare Birds (2001)

Just the type of film I like to curl up with often. I'm becoming quite the William Hurt fan - I think he has good taste in scripts (let’s not discuss “Lost in Space,” alright?).

A-

Get a Clue (2002)

A group of middle schoolers (I'm guessing at age here) work at solving the mystery of their missing teacher. Nice high society meets working-class romance between two of the kids. Charming.

B-

Like Mike (2002)

Orphan gets some shoes he believes once belonged to MJ and suddenly seems to have Jordan's powers plus on the floor. Lil Bow Wow is a cute kid and Morris Chestnut does a believable job in what is, essentially, a kiddie film. But Lipnicki, my boy, it's time to retire. It doesn't look as though that growth spurt is gonna happen any time soon and, at his worst, Macauley Culkin's acting abilities outshine yours.

C-

Yi Yi (2000)

Took a while to get acclimated and able to recognize the large cast. I never did get all of the relationships straightened out. I think if they had given us a bit of biographical dialogue instead of dropping us into the middle of things and expecting us to just "catch on," the film wouldn't have had to be 3 hours long. But, if they did that, I would have just seen a story rather than experienced the lives of those involved. It really allowed me to get into it and decide how I felt about the characters instead of accepting the filmmaker's dictum about what to feel. I may have to view this again before I’m sure of how I feel.

B

Bully (2001)

This had more nudity than Boogie Nights – and such a young cast that I can’t help but suspect the director of pedophilia. It was so chock-full of unnecessary clothing-free scenes, e.g. at one point he focused on the short-shorted crotch of a girl talking on a phone – and it was quite obvious that the girl shaved.

I was interested in the "dude - that guy's a jerk, we should kill him" story line, especially as it's based on true happenings, but Rachel Miner (in the lead) and the hitman were NOT good actors and, truth be told, something needed to be done about the deceased. Why didn't they just report his rapes?

D

Men in Black II (2002)

Some really funny bits that made me laugh for minutes. But, ultimately, the story was way too thin. Lara Flynn Boyle made a boring villain and the vine effects SUCKED. The dog, Frank, was hysterical.

B-

Our Dancing Daughters (1929)

“Our Unfaithful, Lying Daughters” is more like it. Rather sordid for an ancient film. Not very interesting either.

D+

Truly, Madly, Deeply (1991)

Filled with hope. Made me cry. Got off to a bit of a rocky start…thought it was going to be "wacky" with all the strange men filling the lead's apartment at all hours of the night, but it evened out and I ended it up really loving it. Rickman is a marvel.

A-

Insomnia (1998)

I was motivated to view this again as I had just seen the 2002 Pacino version in the theater and wanted to compare plot points. This is, by far far far, the superior film. There's something about American filmmakers that makes them frightened to give us a conflicted hero – a hero who does terrible things. It's as though they refuse to trust us to sift through actions, find the motivators and still be on his side.

Skarsgard doesn't have quite the scene-stealing performance that Pacino did – but he has a more muted character to deal with, so that makes his performance laudable in its own right. I love that he started covering his tracks the moment he made them, instead of giving us the facial gamut of emotions that American films insist upon - since we apparently can't draw conclusions without the mugging. Good film. No...it's a great film.

A