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snakeguy76
Reviews
Godspell: A Musical Based on the Gospel According to St. Matthew (1973)
Did everyone miss the Point?
I have have the seen this movie many times, have seen the stage play and have in the play (I was sort of the Jerry Sroka part, but we use our own names; I also played the recorder for All Good Gifts) Now the movie switches the parables and some of the songs around and takes out three numbers ('Prologue', 'Learn Your Lessons Well', and 'We Beseech thee') 'Beautiful City' is just that - beautiful and really works following 'By My Side'.
Two complaints I have seen about this movie/play is that it is too hippie-ish and that the story doesn't really go anywhere. Well being someone without a life (as my wife can attest to) I have looked at this play very carefully.
The Hippie look is not meant to be recreated over and over again. it should be performed with a contemporary look. My production was updated with the dress and even the stories were updated with more modern references. It worked really well and the audience responded very well.
As far as the "story" its quite simple the players are the apostles, but they are not acting like hippies ( they just are); they are children. In the beginning they are baptized and "born again" Then Jesus puts the makeup on. As the movie/play progresses we see things get a little darker ( and in the play it is striking how different the second act is.) Towards the end 'By My side' shows the disciples' devotion to him and they accept his devotion. At that point Jesus sees that they are ready to go out on their own and that they have "grown- up". There he takes their makeup off and says good bye (Finale/crucifixion).
Now the movie does look kind of cheesy and low budget but personally I think it adds to the charm.
The World Trade center shot is creepy, but fitting that its fir "All For The Best" ... maybe it is, they are in a better place now.
The songs are great growing up my family was part of a folk group at our church and we sang quite a few of these song in mass.
Overall great movie, understand the context which it was written and filmed.
Manimal (1983)
Maybe I was young and an animal lover
OK I'd have to see these again as an adult to give a better opinion. But the show lasted only a few episodes. The special effects were cool , but they did have to reuse some footage. I'm not sure if it was budget or time. Those change sequences must have been a pain to do. And using latex I think is better than CG even though you can do a lot more with CG
From what I remember I liked the show, but it might have been just the fact that a guy could turn into any animal he wanted (although he only got to do a few of of them). That would capture the imagination of any 8 year old. I remember wishing I could do that!
Titanic (1997)
The four stars is a gift
OK this movie was out for two months when I saw this so maybe my expectations was a little high, but with all the hype and money spent making it, it should have been high. This movie would have been better if it was just about the sinking. I like love stories but sticking in corny old love story - rich girl doesn't want to marry rich jerk but instead falls in love with the bohemian artist - boy how original. It took away form the great sinking. I got tired of them running though the water. Cameron does not have a knack for writing good dialog.
Some other parts made no sense - why would billy Zanes character go through this whole thing about stealing the diamond? the boat is sinking and they locking him up in a room? What is wrong here? And the worst plot twist that will forever make me hate this movie is the diamond. She keeps the diamond all these years and decides that tossing it into the ocean 70 years later was the right course of action? What the "beep"! First of all it was given to her by her fiancé. He was a jerk but if she didn't love him she should have given it back. INstead she hides form everyone and pretends she dies and hold onto the diamond. Why throw it in? That diamond had a long history long before she ever got it and she just got the thing. Now it will forever be trapped at the bottom of the sea. It might have made sense if it was Dicaprio who gave it to her, but it was Billy Zane.
Oh man I can go on and one about what annoyed me about this movie.
But this is just my opinion. I know there are many who loved it. But tossing the diamond is not an opinion its just plain WrONG
Something Wilder (1994)
If you blinked, you missed it
This show cam out when I went to college and I only saw maybe two episodes. They were OK, but I don't think sitcoms are for Gene Wilder.
I wish he would do some new stuff, his guest appearances shows he still has something and there are plenty of actors still working in their 70's. His later TV movies were a little better. I think his age and his illnesses and his absence from the big screen is part of it. But his early stuff is just to great to ignore. His interview on Inside the Actors Studio is without a doubt one of the best ones in the series. Gene will always be remembered as one of the greatest comedic actors of all time.
Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid (2004)
Did I like this one better?
Yeah, Although the Borneo anacondas was odd. when i first the the line in the trailer I thought there are no anacondas in Borneo. They could have made it Reticulated Pytons. But the name doesn't roll off the tongue as well.
The plot wasn't too bad and there were no real stars in it. as opposed to the first one which had some big names and no plot.
Hey the formula doesn't always work. But the first one made money because of the name and the stars. the second one didn't because it had no stars and the first one stunk. Never can figure out Hollywood.
a six is generous but compared to the first one it was probably an 8.
Anaconda (1997)
Snake lovers beware
Erik Stolz must have owed someone a favor. But he was lucky; he was unconscious for most of the movie. I wish I was! The scene that made me cringe the most was the "snake fishing" scene where Jon Voigt has the "Jaws" moment. I know it was put in on purpose but it just comes off stupid.
And it doesn't matter too much that there was a lot of snake fact errors (like the speedy snake chase - you can walk faster than any anaconda can slither). Jaws had it share if inaccuracies but it was still a gripping movie.
This movie just fell into the big monster is chased by the hunter. Throw in a little J-Lo to spice it up.
Note to IMDb - the sequel took place in Borneo not the first one. And the cat in the opening scene was a black jaguar, not a tiger.