Serenity (2005)

Biggest movie-going disappointment of my life. I love the television series Firefly and had heard good words from fellow fans who saw advance screenings; I also heard Joss Whedon say in an interview that he's in the business of making things people love, not like. This, unfortunately, was such a letdown to true fans of the series. I'm sure that, as a standalone movie, it works. But as an entry into the timeline and events of Malcolm Reynolds and the crew of Serenity? No. Not only do they rewrite the history of how, exactly, Simon got River out of the Academy, but they ruined the FEEL of the show. AND they killed two (count 'em TWO) of the characters I love. It seems that Whedon was more interested in impressing the masses than keeping the integrity of the material intact -- and that's a real shame. I'll still buy this when it comes out on DVD. Just like Seinfeld and pizza, even bad ones are pretty good.

As a movie, it gets a B+. As compared to the rest of the Firefly stories? It gets a D.

B+

Oldboy (2005)

Interesting at first…but when you find out the big "reasons," it just feels filthy. The scene in the penthouse apartment (after Mr. Han is gone) is overlong and downright horrible. Apparently the writer/director doesn't hold with the "less is more" concept.

C-

An Affair of Love (2000)

One of the most offbeat approaches to finding - and losing - true love I've ever seen. Heartbreaking and authentic.

A-

Brothers (2005)

Sickeningly well-done. Believable and well-told story.

A-

I Walked with a Zombie (1943)

Good atmosphere, but never anywhere near scary enough.

C-

Crash (2005)

A powerful and moving film. It made me feel so many things - all of them honest and real. I loved it so much that I watched it two times in two days and made Gary sit down with me for the second.

A

Swimfan (2002)

Teen Fatal Attraction.

D+

Down with Love (2003)

Kinda cute…but so what? There's a reason they don't make silly little comedies like this any more: because they're no longer relevant in any way. I mean, Ewan's dashing and Hyde Pierce is perfect as the effeminate Tony Randallish buddy -- but what's the point? And Zellweger is, in my opinion, just not up to the task of making us fall in love with her. Her monologue was torture to sit through -- too breathy -- and she's sometimes extremely unattractive.

C

Baby Face (1933)

I saw the edited version and I'm kinda interested in what it looked like before it was butchered.

Basically, it's an unrepentant "sleeping to the top" story. Well, unrepentant until she finds looooooove. Awwww.

C+

Winter Solstice (2005)

My kind of movie. Quiet, beautifully acted, and effortlessly moving. Reminded me of Tully.

A-

Merrily We Live (1938)

It all feels so studiously daffy…only Billie Burke really feels like a genuine screwball. Just OK.

C+

Two Women (1961)

Mother does what she can to keep her daughter safe and comfortable near the end of WW2 in Italy. Very nice performance by Loren, and the movie only really loses itself after the big climax (the girl gets worldly and belligerent way too fast, in my opinion).

B

The Holy Girl (2005)

Odd story that, apparently, enjoyed making the audience feel off-balance. We don't know, right away, that the man who stumbles into the bed containing mother and daughter is the mother's brother…and we don't understand that the mother and brother own and operate the hotel (or even, in fact, that it is a hotel) at first. But my interest won out over my frustration.

The girls are being taught the importance of hearing God's voice in regard to a spiritual vocation (life mission) and a girl believes firmly that her vocation is to "save" a man who gets off on pressing up against girls in crowds. Uncomfortable, to be sure, but definitely not the same old thing.

B-

Morgan! (1966)

Eccentric (read "crazy asshole") man won't leave his ex-wife and her new fiancé alone. This is ultra-stalking complete with bombs under the bed and kidnapping. Only good thing about this is Redgrave…and she's very good.

C-

Theodora Goes Wild (1936)

Tries really hard, but comes off as expecting too much from too little story. The effort is passable, but nothing special.

C+

Hostage (2005)

What a ridiculous, crap movie with one of the worst child actors ever.

F

Schultze Gets the Blues (2005)

Gentle movie about a bachelor who reaches retirement in his quiet German town and stumbles upon a new interest (zydeco music). The lead is so winning and the story so heartwarming that the fact that it's downright boring sometimes (intentionally, I think, so that we see the tedium of his life) doesn't really get in the way. Good story that could've been better if the "boring" portions weren't so overlong.

B-