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Die Vierter (4th)
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Achtung! On this page you will grasp the
scrollbar firmly and move it to navigate the movies herein. It's the Prussian
way. Also, the "CLICK FOR MORE MOVIES" button at the bottom of this screen
is a marvel of modern convenience! In the absence of full commitment from
Count Blitzenspeicher to abandon live stage entertainment for movies, we
have been fortunate to secure, from the Dark Diaper Film Institute, a steady
supply of surplus movie reviews from the talented pens of none other than
the incomparable Dark Diaper and the ravishingly incisive Caped Vixen themselves.
As people of stature seldom venture out into the jostling indelicacy of public
screenings, reviews of previously-shown pictures are apropos for our typical
patrons. In a bow to the Haus of Blitzenspeicher, the Diaper Duo has
graciously consented to allow us to substitute our torpedo rating system
for their usual diaper pins. Last update
October 17, 1999.
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One-half Rating
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Unnecessarily
Graphic or
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One-half Rating
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Immoral Lifestyling,
Gratuitous Sexual
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Mercury Rising
This story opens with senselessly brutal institutional
disregard for human life, which horrifies and revulses career undercover
FBI agent Art Jeffries (Bruce Willis). He reacts with understandable rage
in challenging the sociopathically callous FBI SAC who ordered the travesty.
Jeffries begins to find his thoughts haunted by memories of a system gone
wrong. Compounding the injustice, superiors respond to his fit of outrage
by engineering Jeffries' reassignment to menial duties in an effort to shame
him into quitting. However, he refuses to take the bait and accepts reassignment.
Like a narc detective busted to traffic duty, he soldiers on through a boring
wiretap with a green recruit and, then, is sent on a low-level missing child
report.
Little does Jeffries realize that this nickle-and-dime assignment will
plant him squarely in the crosshairs of a high level NSA cover-up using black
ops methods to minimize exposure of a top-secret project.
A convoluted, gripping drama rapidly unfolds that will really draw you
into it. Willis plays Jeffries with a compelling undercurrent of morality
and justice, a lonely man in a hard-nosed career who hasn't lost his basic
humanity. There is wonderful comic relief throughout this powerful, extremely
entertaining movie and a gratifying sub-plot in which Jeffries opens his
life and finds the friendship of a woman and a child as its reward.
Incredibly, Alec Baldwin's role as NSA Colonel Nicholas Kudrow is only
incidental. However, it is essential and he plays it menacingly and intuitively.
Kudrow is one pathologically bad guy; and, Baldwin can say a world about
it with just the look in his eyes. You get a real chill from this guy.
Thrown together in circumstances beyond their control, Jeffries, Simon
(Miko Hughes) and Stacey (Kim Dickens) begin to build bonds of familiarity,
trust and caring amid a fast-paced, changing landscape of terror and intrigue.
His ripening relationship with Simon is particularly touching and lovely.
Miko Hughes does an incredibly believable job of playing the autistic
Simon, and Kim Dickens was a good choice for the part of Stacey. She was
very likable and added the appropriate edge of caution to her role. A great
touch was Chi McBride's warm and reserved portrayal of Tommy Jordan, Jeffries'
loyal FBI bud.
This movie is rich soil for the imagination that won't disappoint. There
is no nudity, there are probably three or four contextual coarse words; however,
as mentioned earlier, there are strong contextual combat sequences that would
not be appropriate for pacifier-suckers. So leave the kiddy crowd and wimpies
at home, and bring mature teens and adults. |
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Lost in Space
CAUTION: SOME COARSE SPEECH. The Dynamic Diaper Duo was hugely stoked
for this movie and, for the most part, it didn't fail.
It's 2058 and the World is ecologically doomed with 20 years to find a
new planet. But don't worry if you're snagged in a long popcorn line, the
movie gets off to a creep. However, the spacecraft's take-off was breathtaking
and as real as a space shuttle launch! And that was just the opener in a
steady stream of riveting action, special effects and scientific phenomena
that captivate your imagination.
The Robinson's, lead by Professor/Dad (William Hurt) warp-speed ahead
to build a space gate at Alpha Prime on the far side of the universe. Alas,
a traitorous Dr. Smith, played excellently by Gary Olman, sabotages the ship
and the Robinsons are now Lost in Space. (Olman brings to mind the notorious
Emperor Ming of Flash Gordon days.)
From Robot reprogrammed to kill, to incredibly life-like animated quasi-monkey
creature, to killer space spiders, the family plus two manages the illogical
leap between courageousness and the "warm fuzzies" and back -- repeatedly.
Gee, these space travellers are just like us... Not! This otherwise delightful
Sci-fi adventure sports at least 4 instances of profanity. When hotshot pilot
Major Don West (Matt LeBlanc) goes for a double-handed grab, he gets rebuffed
by love-interest/biologist/daughter, Judy (Heather Graham), with an off-color
reference to his "joystick". Argument-breaker/Space Mom, (Mimi Rogers), tells
her hubby and Major West to quit their "p_ssing contest" and later refers
to this as diplomacy. Hey! Wack screenwriter alert! They even have young
Will Robinson (10ish), played by Jack Johnson, using the word
"sh_t" as part of his dialogue!
A Brady Bunch "We made it!" ending leaves you wondering "what's up?" with
this constant burger-flippng between family bonding and graituitous course
talk. In spite of it's blemishes, this is great entertainment for
mature teens and over, just be aware of the raw speech. |
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Mr. Nice
Guy
This is Jackie Chan's best movie! Who is Jackie Chan? He's the TV chef who
just never has a dull minute. This guy can't get back from the grocery store
without stepping into the life-or-death rescue of a supermodel-looking heroine.
She's an investigative prime-time journalist on the lam from both sides of
a drug deal gone bad. Her film of it is destined for an evening news spot
and both groups of bad guys want to destroy it.
Don't worry Jackie fans.. this is just the opening few minutes of the
story. The action does pick up. It's an hilarious, rough-and-tumble suspension
of reality with some of the neatest stunts I've ever seen: all Jackie Chan's
stock-in-trade. There is no nudity (only a short lingerie shot of the supermodel
reporter)and only slight profanity. It IS enough profanity, though, to exclude
anyone younger than mature teens and adults.
Parents puzzled by their kid's filthy mouths need look no farther than
the movies they are allowed to see, the movies their little unsupervised
school friends watch and emmulate, and the increasingly filthy content of
printed matter available to children.
The Dynamic Diaper Duo thoroughly enjoyed this movie. It's a hugely
entertaining afternoon romp for big-people! |
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U. S. MARSHALS
Tommy Lee Jones is, again, engaging as Deputy U.S. Marshal Sam Gerard, a
smart, razorback-tough lawman with that trademark balance of manly compassion
and humanity. He leads a crew of diverse law enforcement personalities on
a manhunt for escaped prisoner "Sheridan", played perfectly by Wesley Snipes.
(If you liked the Matlock TV series, you'll note a familiar face among the
folks from the Marshals office; but, I won't tip it off.)
Sheridan's past becomes more and more mysterious the more it's investigated,
and when facts just don't jibe, Gerard smells a rat. The question is: Who's
the rat? It could be any of a number of people; and, you'll find yourself
suspecting -- and re-suspecting -- each of them to be the REAL bad guy before
the finale.
This is not a trite sequel to another movie. This is a supremely engrossing
rollercoaster ride... much more interesting than The Fugitive (itself merely
a high-budget re-hash of the old TV series.) U.S. Marshals is a riveting,
lightening-fast mystery-chase-suspense-thriller with more twists and turns
than an English garden maze. You are forced to THINK. You are constantly
being thrown a curve.
Irene Jacob plays a French resident alien working in an upscale coffee
shop, and Sheridan's loyal, unsuspecting girlfriend. She has a mesmerizing,
simple beauty and a natural, unaffected manner that makes her performance
seem easy and completely genuine. You gotta love that delicate French
accent!
A supporting actor I really liked was Joe Pantoliano. He is terrific as
Deputy Marshal Cosmo Renfro.
Robert Downey Jr. is completely believable as the sociopathic Federal
agent John Royce. Sometimes you almost like him. Mostly, you just don't.
He has the smug, untrustworthy air of that angler in every corporate office
whom you KNOW not to turn your back on.
This was really a stellar cast and everyone did a good job. Pleasantly,
there was NO NUDITY! The violence and gun play are givens. Unfortunately,
however, the profanity level is brutal, though basically contextual. (At
least you DO hear "God" and "Jesus" more often than in a Sunday sermon; but,
you won't like the emphasis.) At some point, you ask yourself innocently
"Does the screenwriter have terminal Turette's Syndrome?" You quickly answer
"YES! Undeniably!" No doubt, when they edit this one for TV, it'll look more
like one of those comical Samurai flicks with the choppy English
voice-overs. |
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TWILIGHT
is a complex, brain-boiler of a murder mystery. My Superwife Sidekick and
I really enjoyed the smart, adult sophistication of this movie. It recalls
the velvety atmosphere of classic 40's and 50's movie-making. There's even
a dash of 30's-era dialog and action in a Paul Newman scene that's straight
out of gangster novellas like "Pickup on Noon Street" and the seminal fiction
of Dashiel Hammett.
Paul Newman is deft and intuitive in his portrayal of burned-out detective
Harry Ross. Ross's last case was to retrieve his client's moon-struck teenage
daughter from an unwise Mexican fling. He suffers what becomes, unbeknown
to him, a widely misinterpreted wound from the daughter's horseplay with
his gun after he drops it in a scuffle. A short recuperative stay in the
garage apartment of the client's palatial, Hollywood estate evolves with
the passage of time and Harry assumes additional roles and responsibilities,
becoming sort of an extended family relative.
After a life of hard knocks, including divorce, alcoholism, and the loss
of his police job, the stay provides a safe harbor with kitchen privileges,
a blush of ease and a sense of belonging. He forms a bond with his adopted
family and handles errands in return for room and board. One fateful errand
sets events in motion that eventually turn everyone's life upside down, as
the savvy former detective begins to catch up to a seamy extortion scheme
in which bodies just start piling up like cordwood.
This is a smooth, generous movie with just the right amount of drama and
mystery. If you loved the Perry Mason TV series; if you ooh'd and ah'd over
Mulholland Falls and LA Confidential, this is the right candy for you. It's
generally a more mature, sophisticated take on that style of movie and every
bit as engrossing. BUT, watch out! There is gratuitous nudity.
This is not a show for the young or possibly even their parents. Two unbashful
"co-stars" pop out early onto the silver screen from the chest of actress
Reese Witherspoon, who plays the daughter (Mel) of Harry Ross's employer
Jack Ames and his wife Catherine, both former movie people (Gene Hackman
and Susan Sarandon.) Her basic purpose in life is to balance utopia with
rebellion and teenage sarcasm; but, for viewers, she presents another problem.
Those who would blanch at approximately one solid minute of tight, well-focused
footage of a young woman's breasts, should stay away from the movie's opening
segment. Plan to be fashionably late.
Susan Sarandon has finally proven that she is a professional in this movie,
with a mature subtlety, and an incredible range of facial expression that
is both stunning and intensely captivating. She could lose her body in a
bomb blast and still give an Oscar-winner with just her neck and face! Gene
Hackman is invariably a winning, charming sentimental favorite, regardless
the role. And James Garner, as usual, plays Jim Rockford... only in a smoother,
less-estimable, better-heeled variation: sort of a slant on John Wayne's
method of always playing John Wayne (except in True Grit). I enjoyed it,
regardless, because I always liked the Rockford Files... and because it somehow
works.
An added word of caution: Susan has a few little surprises for you in
HER bag of tricks. If you find the prospect of two fleeting/unfocused nude
scenes of Ms. Sarandon unsettling, then you'd better have your forearm at
the ready and on Emergency Alert! You'll get 'em whether you like it or not,
and they spring on you like a jungle cat.
Ever honestly wonder why all the movie nudity, even as more of us are
openly questioning it? Maybe when you spend your entire career staring into
mirrors and camera lenses, you become focused on proving that: (A) you've
finally got "it" or (B) "it's" never left you. Possibly, on the flip side
of the camera lense, a pertinent question would be "Does Pee-wee's Pastime
haunt the private screening rooms of Hollywood?" (For collateral research
on this subject, try this: http://www.inindy.com/allmedia/august/twentyseven.htm
) Maybe insider-Hollywood really IS a narcissistic netherworld of unrealistic
Peter Pans who've never grown up, and never need to... With no traditional
moral conscience and no parents to spank them. |
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The
Apostle
"And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling
shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass
as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most
High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he
will.
And at the end of the days, I.. lifted up mine eyes
unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most
High, and I praised and honored him that liveth for ever..
..my reason returned unto me; and.. mine honour and
brightness returned unto me.. I was established in my kingdom, and excellent
majesty was added unto me." Dan. 4: 32 - 36
This is a story about flawed lives, about reality in this world. It is
a deeply moving intimate portrayal of chances lost and lives redeemed.
It is beautiful and, in some way, it will touch every viewer
personally... a remembrance of a past experience or feeling, an event
in the life of a friend or loved one. It is so real... it will bring
out that buried emotion for a moment. Robert Duvall has directed and
starred in possibly the best movie ever made. Whether or not you like the
subject matter, the work stands as an intuitive masterpiece. It is
a careful study of everyman, deft and perfectly performed.
The main character is a charismatic evangelist who, from the age of 12,
devoted himself to God, yet failed to see and account for the hypocrisy
and harmful effect of his failings.... that is, until he turned a
corner in his life that could not be undone. At that point, he experiences
an awakening and makes a dramatic break with his former life, sincerely
renewing and deepening his commitment to doing Gods will. The
charity and sincerity that grows in this man, the love he gives and receives
will have you pulling for him to the end.
Did I say this is a masterpiece? It is one on every conceivable level.
Go and take everybody over ten. |
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The Avengers
The original "Avengers" series is now available in digitally remastered form.
Get it and skip this anemic movie. I'M SERIOUS.
The stunning opening credit work portended much; but, alas... This movie
has no sense of dramatic timing. Yawning lapses in enthusiasm, a truly
inconsistent quality to the script-writing, perfunctory acting that suggests
poor chemistry on the set, slap-dash directing and theme music that seems
written for a more exciting movie all add to the impression of a second rehearsal
using rough script drafts, rather than a blockbuster thriller.
The sound level varies between cuts and stunts, while often dramatic,
are often poorly integrated into the story or scenes and, thus, loose much
of their punch. You are almost always aware of the ending of one take and
the beginning of another, even when they are part of the same scene; but,
as the movie nears the last thirty minutes, this flaw is heightened by a
growing lack of continuity from one take to the next until, finally, it appears
that the whole goal of entertainment has been usurped by an unapologetic
and undisguised effort to simply bring the movie to a close.
Over dinner at the our cozy neighborhood grill, a senior member of the
Diaper entourage remarked that the "dialogue was a little desperate." Another
veteran enjoined "Glad I didn't have to pay for it!"
Ralph Fiennes is too good to be in this movie. If he's seen the final
cut, he probably realizes this... to his doubtless dismay and horror. The
best one-word characterization of the original Avengers is INTELLIGENT. The
best word for this movie is INSIPID. Were it not for the irresistability
of my movie morsels, the ingestometer ratings would have been way below
par. |
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Varsity
Blues
One of the lead stars, James Van Der Beek, is a native of Cheshire, CT.
Some people will know him from his lead role in the controversial "Dawson's
Creek". Because of a concussion at the age of 13, he switched from sports
to acting. Since then, he's been on stage (off-Broadway even), on TV, and
now movies. He has, also, been known to grace the campus of Drew University
(Madison, New Jersey) where he has finished several years of an academic
scholarship in English and Sociology. There are, therefore two interesting
parallels between his real life and the character he plays in this new movie.
Like his character, John Moxon, he's an athlete and he's the recipient of
an academic scholarship.
Varsity Blues has LOTS OF HEART, fiercely genuine portrayals, and graphic
realism! You LIVE the story because it IS the story. Anyone who has ever
had the semblance of a full high school and/or college experience can relate
to this as though it is real and happening... no flaws. And that's part of
the problem. This leaves nothing to the imagination. Not the pornographically
raw sexual exposure and wantonness, the glorification of rowdy alcoholism,
the coarse language... NOTHING.
Granted, it's all part of some kids' lives. It should not be made an icon
or, as is currently the case, promoted by the likes of MTV with a largely
teen viewing audience. This is absolutely a great movie and absolutely
inappropriate for young people to learn from and to emulate... with the exception
of the wonderful example of John "Mox" Moxon the late-blooming, bedeviled,
and highly praiseworthy, reluctant quarterback who saves the day, saves the
day, and saves the day again; despite the flaws of others, and the obstructions
and provocations they pose.
Jon Voight played the role of his life as a corrupt and egomaniacal head
coach, Bud Kilmer, whose all-consuming vision is another championship year.
He is totally controlling, and controlled and driven by his own myth and
insuperable ego, with callous disregard for those entrusted to his care.
You'll cheer his performance and despise the character. And you'll root for
Moxx and Billy Bob (My favorite character.), who come through despite all
odds. Both roles are magnificiently acted, as are every one of the roles
I can recall.
In this movie, Voight, like Meryl Streep, has proven himself capable of
something few actors can honestly claim. Forget the DeCaprios and the other
"gloss babies" - more hype than substance. Voight captures the character
of Kilmer so well, that "Voight the actor" is completely sublimated and the
coach is the only human being present... living, breathing, palpably real
with all of his warts! There is even a complete physical metamorphosis that
occurs in your mind. You just don't imagine Voight at all. THAT'S acting,
and you want to wring his neck and scratch his eyes out he's so evil. Cutting
him off in traffic just ISN'T good enough!
Bring a quick forearm to obscure the recurrent nudity and have forefingers
at the ready to cover tender ears against the onslaught of realistic, but
frequent, profanity. But, be prepared, despite this, to enjoy the incredibly
fine and often very funny movie underneath. This is a show for adults...
No way around it. And, it's obviously not for ALL adults. What a pity. It
has ALL of the makings of a great inspirational film, except - as is SO OFTEN
the case with an unrepentantly dissolute and degenerate Hollywood - the
managerial integrity. What a shame the whole family can't see this. They
would have enjoyed the story, too. (Maybe what the Diaper Duo saw will be
changed before it is released to the whole country. Try lobbying for it.
HURRY! IT'S DUE OUT JANUARY 15th.) |
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LETHAL WEAPON
4
This is a well-ripened watermelon. If you're a connoisseur, you know how
good that is! The chemistry between Mel Gibson and Danny Glover is, as ever,
legendary. This is the beating heart of this film and really makes it work.
UNFORTUNATELY... there is enough cussing to make a crew of sailors blush.
Riggs (Gibson) and Murtaugh (Glover)begin with an appetizer of street
violence (in which Riggs tricks Murtaugh into dancing in his skivies) and
gradually work toward the entree as the movie progresses. An intricate plot
of separate intrigues involves the ransom of a man's family by a Communist
Chinese officer and the kidnap of other Chinese needed to counterfeit some
Chinese money. Then there is the people-smuggling operation and, sadly, ANOTHER
catastrophe befalls Murtaugh's ill-fated house.
The action on the freeway was WHITE KNUCKLE STUFF! The car chase. The
fighting and fighting inside of one half of an open, double-wide "manufactured
house" being towed by a semi. Very absorbing. Very much reminiscent of our
last spy case. Wow, you know that concrete can be toasty when you're skidding
down it at 60 miles per hour on a game table. Just ask Mrs. Diaper!
There is no nudity that I can recall, and I'm very sharp on that; but
the bad words would span the waistline of Santa Claus in 10 point pica...
and Santa Claus wouldn't sit through them all. So DON'T take any children
you care about. Go W-A-R-N-E-D if you decide to go with adults. It's a great
action film that will keep you tremendously engrossed. It is decently acted
and the mix of humor, always good, is made even better by Chris Rock's consumate
skills; but its got a bite. |
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THE MASK OF
ZORRO
This is, HANDS DOWN, the best Zorro! And I've seen the others. When I
read that Anthony Hopkins was playing Zorro... well I just couldn't imagine
it. But he's great! He did such a completely incredible job that I was sorry
the story's intention is for him to pass the mask to a younger successor.
Antonio Banderas is certainly the most well chosen successor! Together, they
made Zorro the most thoroughly entertaining ever.
Don Diego de la Vega (aka Zorro), as a younger man, loses his wife, daughter,
home and freedom to the envious and evil (more so than Snidely Whiplash)
Don Rafael Montero. You'll want to scratch his eyes out, even if you're a
man. I had to restrain Mrs. Diaper. Our consumables ran out quickly during
the early action... Always a good sign.
As time goes along, things change in old Mejico. The Spaniards begin returning
to Spain and Don Raphael (very ably played by Stuart Wilson) sees a golden
opportunity. With the aid of his equally evil and devious sidekick, U.S.
Marine Captain Harrison Love (Matt Letscher) he puts together the elements
that will help him pull off a massive power grab.
But guess who steps, or step, in to spoil his oats? The two Zorros, of
course! Zorro gets his daughter back and Zorro stops the bad guys and Zorro
gets the girl. Only two men could be so bold!
There is great humor, great acting, great drama. Terrifico! Muy terrifico!
The locations and costumes were equally great. The sword fights were
edge-of-the-seat masterpieces! The other action was... Magnifico! There is
no cussing, no nudity (In one scene, Elena has her clothing cut away above
the waist; but nothing shows due to her thick, long hair. Very tastefully
handled!) The only thing that I can imagine as difficult for sub-teens would
be the good old-time body stabbing. But what do you expect! It's high-stakes
action adventure... Manful fighting for the cause of good. When it ended,
I clapped with both hands and feet until Mrs. Diaper threw her cape over
my head. |
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There's Something
About Mary
This is the most base comedy that I have seen in many moons. The things which
elevate this movie are heavily offset by the things that send it straight
down the toilet. The masturbation scene is subhuman, as are the three scenes
hinting fellatio. Probably the most juvenile and offensive sight gag was
the semen-in-the-hair sequence.
Thankfully, the closeups of penis-caught-in-a-zipper and of shriveled
breasts were latex fakes, but that doesn't remove the offensiveness. And
that offensiveness is not just the bad taste represented, but the low estimation
of you... the viewer.
There are people who will bristle at the use of "retards" to describe
some handicapped people. The same delicate souls bristle at the use of "bums"
and "hobos" instead of "homeless people" to describe the unemployable, selfish,
irresponsible welfare poster children of the last forty years. Some of the
comments were cruel, but "retarded" and "handicapped" are accurate words
for challenged people: "special" and "exceptional" are feel-good euphemisms.
They're PC whitewash. Let's have compassion if that's our nature (We don't
have to have any.), but please let's have honesty.
Mrs. Diaper's reaction to the movie's low points: "I don't want to see
that. I don't want that to ever be part of my experience again."
If you still think you want to see this movie, consider that there is
coarse language. If you STILL want to see it... Well, there IS a romantic
sub-plot. Ben Stiller's character (Ted) was high school's throw-back to
Cro-Magnon man with his disheveled hair and humongous braces... the unassuming
model of low self esteem. Then the UNTHINKABLE happened. The prettiest girl
in school, the love of his imagination, agreed to go to the prom with him
(the dream of all geeks everywhere.) His nerdy friends bet him that he was
lying when he dropped the news at their hangout tree.
The rest of the movie is a revelation that Mary's the antithesis of the
shallow, self-absorbed snob that is the stereotypical "high school dream."
In fact, she's a kind-hearted sweetheart, with a soft spot for every "bird
with a broken wing" (which explains her earlier willingness to go out with
Ted.) A whole community of neighbors and other folks receive her kindnesses
on a regular basis (but never seem to give anything back.) Unfortunately,
that makes her fresh meat for even the lamest of impostors, such as the
curb-vegetable PI that Ted hires to find Mary, years and years after
graduation.
There ensues a rivalry for Mary's charms (sort of a feeding frenzy) between
the PI (Matt Dillon) and Ted... and an old high school ex, and a recent ex...
AND a "semi-paralyzed" friend of her's.
Some parts of this movie are charming, sweet and funny. The comedy timing
is good. But, this is NOT a family movie. If your mind resembles a toilet,
go... but I would suggest growing up instead. |
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MADELINE
Thoroughly delightful telling of the beloved childrens' books of a little
french schoolgirl. Cherub faced Hatty Jones is perfect as the movie version
of fearless Madeline and Frances McDormand plays Miss Clavel, the nun/school
teacher who watches over Madeline and 11 other uniformly dressed little catholic
schoolgirls. Adventure finds Madeline constantly from her fall into the Seine
river, chasing her mischevious hat, being kidnapped along with the Spanish
Ambassador's even-more-michevious son, Pepito (Kristian De La Osa).
Madeline leads the girls in a school-saving plot as the owner, Lord Covington
(Nigel Hawthorne), trys to sell the building. All works out in the end, and
Madeline is truly a brave, sweet little heroine.
The opening and closing scenes melt the book's artwork into the live action.
Take your children and remember to read the books as well! |
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ARMAGEDDON
On this July 4th, in keeping with our pledge not to review any Disney
film until further notice, we will not review Armageddon. Instead, it is
more fitting to share with you another event that has more value and directly
addresses the problem with Disney's direction and, indeed, the problem with
the general direction of a segment of popular culture.
I opened a book tonight with the vaguest of goals, just simply to pore
over a good passage and make it mine so to speak. I had no specific passage,
but tried to direct myself to one that "felt right" with no success. A breeze
kept pushing pages around, requiring me to restrain them, as my book holder
was insufficient to the task. The solution lay in flipping the preponderance
of pages to the other side of the book so as to wedge them firmly under the
lip of the book holder as a bulwark against the wind coming from that side.
Still the words now open to me were not "the right ones" somehow, until several
at the end of the right-hand page stood out.
Turning that page, I read the rest of the sentence and decided to work
with it. It was at that point that Mrs. Diaper, as she is want to do, interrupted
me with a meaningful insight that she sincerely wanted to communicate; and,
because I am usually the better for listening, I acquiesced. According to
form, it was just engaging and meaty enough that my budding connection with
the earlier endeavor was irreparably fuzzed.
But, that's all right. You see it was simply another lesson in how God's
will has nothing to do with human will and cannot be informed or determined
by it. It was the distraction from human will that gave me this beautiful
message to share with all people of good purpose tonight as we celebrate
the Fourth of July and it was my loving partner in life who was God's
instrument.
The message is from extemporaneous remarks made by Mary Baker
Eddy* after a Sunday service many years ago... a Sunday service
given on the Fourth of July! It is substantially as follows:
"The day we celebrate reminds us of the heroes and
heroines who counted not their own lives dear to them, when they sought the
New England shores... steadfast in faith and love... The Pilgrims came to
establish a nation in true freedom, in the rights of conscience.
But what of ourselves, and our times and obligations?
Are we duly aware of our great opportunities and responsibilities? Are we
prepared to meet and improve them, to act up to the acme of divine energy
wherewith we are armored?
Never was there a more solemn and imperious
call than God makes to us all, right here, for fervent devotion and an absolute
consecration to the greatest and holiest of all causes. The hour is come.
The great battle of Armageddon is upon us. The powers of evil are leagued
together in secret conspiracy against the Lord and against His Christ...
Large numbers, in desperate malice, are engaged day and night in organizing
action against us. Their feeling and purpose are deadly, and they have sworn
enmity against the lives of our standard-bearers.
What will you do about it? Will you doff
your lavender-kid zeal, and become real and consecrated warriors? Will you
give yourselves wholly and irrevocably to the great work of establishing
the truth, the gospel... which are necessary to the salvation of the world
from error, sin, disease and death? Answer at once and practically, and answer
aright!"
*
Discoverer and founder of Christian Science and author of Science and Health
with Key to the Scriptures. |
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OUT OF
SIGHT
This movie is an exquisite feast, an intelligently written thriller/comedy
with just the right counterbalance of drama; sensitively and deftly acted
and directed, and cast to perfection. The comic delivery, balance and timing
were among the best I've seen. Ditto for the action.
Technically, it's a sophisticated work that seamlessly interlaces essential
plot elements from several different periods, on-the-fly, with real-time
events. It's an impressive mix of art and skill that adds real depth to
characters and events without bogging down the movie's energy or pace.
George Clooney (as Jack Foley) does a masterful job. In ways, he could
have taught Cary Grant and Humphrey Bogart a few lessons. He is more natural,
fresh, and vulnerable.
Jennifer Lopez (as Federal Marshal Karen Sisko, dating a married former
ATF / now FBI agent) is a beautiful and marvelously competent compliment
to Clooney's character. The cast is chock full of character actors you'll
recognize and thoroughly enjoy. You won't believe who are non-credited in
this movie. I'll leave their identities a secret.
Foley uses the escape of two obviously homosexual Latinos to divert attention
from his own breakout and runs headlong into Sisko's shotgun barrel. Sisko's
attempt to foil a prison break doesn't quite go her way, however, and she
winds up sharing a trunk with one of the escapees (Foley), whom she discovers
is incredibly appealing in a strange sort of way. Their unfolding relationship
is one of the main plot elements... but only one of them. There is also a
little matter of some rough-cut diamonds.
There is some contextual sexual inuendo, but no nudity (A bedroom scene
without nudity! Very refreshing! How many times has this happened since the
50's?). The language is generally tame, but with some scattered accents of
coarse language. Scattered violent scenes are essential to the plot development
and are all very brief and handled tastefully, with one forming part of a
well-telegraphed sight gag that takes much of the edge away.
Mrs. Diaper and I thoroughly enjoyed this movie both for its classic quality
and marvelously intelligent humor. Go see this one, and take mature teens
and friends. |
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DOCTOR
DOLITTLE
(OR: Dolittle Does Little.) This movie is an absolutely ephemeral
and anemic one-horse comedy, returning time-and-again to rump-centric toilet
humor. There was plenty of dead space in it. Tasteless enough for the most
puerile of dolts. Only one couple (somewhere behind us) consistently cackled
at obvious laugh lines, and they truly sounded frighteningly maniacal and
demented (I'm NOT kidding!). The most disturbingly unpleasant sound in the
theater, however, was the occasional sound of angelic children's voices
responding to debasing toilet humor.
Animal animation was top notch, but their character portrayals -- both
the hard-edged lines and edgy voices -- were just not generally entertaining...
and certainly not sweet enough for children. It doesn't help that the voices
of the dog and the tiger are done by two different people and yet sound the
same. The voice of Chris Rock, as the guinea pig, was the only worthy
performance.
The plot was barely existent and served only as thin glue for what were
supposed to be comedy segments. Most of the acting was ho-hum, even Eddie
Murphy's. With the hyped comparison to The Nutty Professor, I expected a
lot more. Don't take children and don't waste your money. |
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Visit
the M Files:
Diaperous life-form discovered on Mars |
X Files
With the usual aplomb, the Diaper entourage slipped into its seats in catlike
stealth, like a pride of lions shadowing their prey. I traversed the twilight
with a tray of consumables and joined them, aside Caped Vixen (the Diaper
Wife Companion). On my right, a flash of orange and white teased my peripheral
vision. It was a t-shirt: It was a harbinger.
As the fictional drama began unfolding amid hauntingly wispy, pavlovian
strains of the X Files theme song, the viewer on my right fell into slack-jawed
abstraction, as if receiving the codex of a hidden reality. He stayed that
way until the final credits, transfixed in a vacant wonder that only true
believers know. Often during the movie, he would unconsciouly plunge forward
for a closer brush with truth, much as pooch's tongue searches the last blush
of flavor in an empty dinner bowl.
He was, o-o-o-oh, 'bout 24. Truly a close encounter of the third kind.
He'll be in full costume in a few years, flashing his badge at other X-Filers
and echoing the trite shibboleth "No I'm not a door-to-door salesman".
The usual suspects were all there in the movie. To its credit, the story
didn't try to out-shine its parent TV series. It was, more, a big-screen
version of the series.
A deadly, primordial evilness lurks below the surface in patient hibernation
until a contemporary schoolboy happens upon a weak spot and tumbles into
a subterranean cavern, waking the evilness. It quickly takes-over his body
and makes it a host.
Far away, Scully and Mulder unenthusiastically hunt for the bomb said
to be planted in a Federal building.
Their detestable, chain-smoking government nemesis and his secret alliance
of world conspirators (The Council on Foreign Relations?) have been engaged
in cultural exchange with the Ancient Evilness and have just discovered that
things are going sour. Their planned anti-Evilness vaccine is still in beta
test and might be too weak.
I fell asleep briefly during the big action scene. (Brief ceasation in
Diaper Commentary...)
(Caped Vixen to the rescue!) The deep kid-hole in a North Texas
suburb becomes the automatic home of geodesic domes and pristine tanker
trucks, ringed loosely by uniformed, gun toting, feds.
Not wanting to give to much away, Mulder is approached by a "knowing"
scientist (discredited member of the world conspirators - Dark Diaper comment.)
who shares the awful secret. Scully hands in her resignation from the FBI.
Killer bees spread a deadly alien virus strain. No one is to be trusted.
You can fly to the artic really fast if noone's watching. Everyone is out
to knock off Mulder (well, that's not exactly new). Could it get worse? Yes!
Resoundingly, yes! Scully's got an alien inside her, yuck!
This is a MUST for X-filers, but a bit to slow-paced for
those of us who thrive on less smoke and dark places with blazes of light
and more out and out adventure, intrigue you can actully decipher and bad
guys (monsters included) that stay on screen long enough for you to actually
figure out what they look like.
Better than most of the TV episodes, but there are a few hum-dingers that
top the movie (remember when they were slogging through the sewers with that
humanoid alien?).
Verdict... Something
is out there.
(Diaper Commentary resumes...)I could have written
more, but I like Vixen's summation better. Now, what's with the "corn" angle?
Must be that the screenwriter didn't like it. Regardless, the fearless Diaper
Duo will press on with plans for corn-on-the-cob with dinner.
No nudity and we don't recall any cuss words. Hope
there weren't any. Some scenes could be quite frightening for kiddies.
Leave sub-teens at
home, and take all your fellow alien hunters and
conspiracy buffs! |
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Shooting
Fish
Delightful, wacky British comedy/romance/crime movie. Jez (Stuart Townsend)
is a soft-hearted English nerd and formerlly a disconcertingly smart orphan,
who pairs with slick-talking American Dylan (Dan Futterman), the former terror
of his orphanage. Their goal is to get the home of their childhood orphanage
dreams.
They hire Georgie (Kate Beckinsale) to type screen responses for their
bogus, "voice-activated" computer scam. She naively believes it to be a
well-motivated, though misguided, effort to raise money for orphans.
Both guys are attracted to Georgie who just happens to be engaged to a
fella she doesn't love while she attends medical school.
The guys continue bilking rich folks while they "pay back" a guy who stole
their laptop with an elaborate sting, part of which backfires landing the
duo in jail for three months. This time frame coincides with Georgie's impending
marriage to the wrong guy AND the recall of the fifty pound notes our pair
have been carefully putting aside for their dream house.
In an unusual twist, (the funeral scene was a hoot) the boys finally get
their house along with several deserving house guests and romance blossoms. |
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A PERFECT
MURDER
Michael Douglas excels in dark dramas. He's developed sort of an "evil charm"
thing for himself and he does a real good job with that type of role. Suave,
intelligent, controlled, sophisticated ...and FLAWED.
Stephen Taylor (Michael Douglas) builds a financial mirage out of heavily
leveraged bond holdings illegally used as loan security. When this contorted
house of cards begins to fall, he realizes the chilling truth that he faces
almost overnight financial ruin in an avalanche of margin calls.
Compounding his gloom is a sense of building betrayal by his wife, Emily
(Gwyneth Paltrow), having detected her budding affair with an itinerant painter
(Viggo Mortensen). Emily, a United Nations translator, is independently wealthy
and is Stephen's society cache'. They have a polite, opulent, tiresome marriage.
Emily, genuine and unaffected, is starved by the relationship and falls
into what seems to be a genuinely warm romance with a struggling artist who
loves her for herself and apparently knows nothing about her wealth.
As his dilemma deepens, Stephen's distraction with Emily's affair grows,
setting in motion a deadly intrigue and a series of unexpected and volatile
events that really keep you guessing about what will come next.
This is a gripping adult mystery unfolding amid colliding worlds of lush
privilege and stark, grifting vulgarity; rippling with equal parts of envy,
greed, and opportunistic deceit.
Thank goodness Poirot is on the job. (David Suchet is police detective
Mohamed Karaman! It's a delicious touch.) Coolly savoring each snack morsel,
the Diaper Duo relished this movie's close approximation of the dangers and
cabals encountered in real superhero living. NOTE: Only 18 year-olds and
over. |
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ALMOST
HEROES
This is an absolutely devilish sendup of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
I particularly liked it, although there is a need for caution. This
is a movie for those 18 and above. (A smattering of scatological speech and
a pinch of bare booty do occur.)
The "serious" historical backdrop is the assertion that there was another
team of explorers led by bumbling Leslie Edwards (Matthew Perry) who, despite
monumental self-inflicted setbacks (including rowing against the current)
and a late start, manage to actually beat Lewis and Clark in their quest
for the Northwest Passage to the Pacific Ocean.
This is the kind of delicious satire that's been in slim supply since
Laurel and Hardy hung up their spurs. It's pure foolishness from the opening
scene and this is balanced with quality and polish, and terrific physical
humor from Farley. It seldom goes over the edge.
I'll miss Chris Farley. He had a perspective on what he was doing. He
was in control of his humor. Good humor needs to be balanced. It needs contrast
with something else. When Chris needed to provide that contrast, he put as
much into that as he did in going for the laugh. I respect that.
Eugene Levy is wickedly funny as Guy Fontenot, the interpreter with dubious
language skills. His "Indian woman" (Lisa Barbuscia) could step right into
a Vogue or Mademoiselle spread. The proposition of the two of them together
is a richly laughable sight gag.
Tussles with a bear, bullets, conquistadors, eagles, and rapids; and
unexpected help from a band of octogenarian Indians help to round out the
eccentric, moronic, and delightful mischief. |
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Godzilla
In your face adventure, born 30 years earlier from French nuclear testing
in the South Pacific, Godzilla heads for the only logical (?) island to do
his nesting. Yes I said his nesting. Seems there actually are some lizards
that can procreate all by their lonesome and our 1998 Godzilla is just the
male to prove it.
Mathew Broderick plays Dr. Nick Tatopoulos, a scientist who tracks phenomenal
growth in worms after a nuclear reactor breakdown. Our military snaps him
up at Chernobyl to analyze the radioactive footprints found in Panama. No
sooner do they get started then there's an emerging reptile in Manhattan.
Ex-girl friend, now aspiring to be reporter, Audrey Timmonds (Maria Pitillo),
leaks the monster pregnancy tests and top secret monster video in an attempt
to further her own career and this lands Nick with the French underground.
You with me so far?
Story twists aside, this is a monster movie that DELIVERS! Plenty of "stepping
on" New York scenes as Godzilla checks out the lay of the land and works
to avoid those annoying little helicopters.
Its in your face adventure when the eggs hatch, all 200 or so of them,
and the mandatory chases begin! It was like seeing 9 foot tall, blunt snouted
velociraptor-like monsterettes, everywhere.
We thoroughly enjoyed this monster romp -- my jelly bean box was empty
way to soon. Great animatronics. The cab ride was especially thrilling.
Still wondering why there is the "need" to use fowl language, which by
the way came early in the movie and from an actress. Come on Hollywood,
Godzilla's for kids, clean up the wording will 'ya?!! And why didn't they
ask Rush Limbaugh to play Raymond Burr's part this time?? (...Guess it's
because he lost weight.)
Note: Do not bring little
children to this movie like some in our audience did. It will scare
them and is especially selfish for other people watching to hear little ones
crying - it IS a monster movie!!! |
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