Reviews

This is a celebration of friendship, growing up, and in-your-face reality for teens, tho enjoyable at any age. Mean girls, hot kids, everyday sexual tension, parental conflicts, and a depiction of earnest religious types as hypocrites that will offend some. Relax, it's a fantasy comedy! Some really talented young actors here who I hope to see a lot more of.

It's true that the film doesn't do justice to all the developments and nuances of the book, but given the amount of material to be covered, that's not surprising. What is gratifying is that there is enough exposition to give us a coherent story, and it's beautifully done. The cinematography and lighting are outstanding; the CG imagery amazing and lifelike; and the camera angles, especially on transition shots, are often disturbing in a way that sweeps us along.

Weitz moves the plot along by *showing* us what we need to know, rather than telling us about it. I can't wait to see (and buy) the director's cut, to see all the footage he was forced to leave out of the release. I hope there is more with Tom Courtenay in there, because he (as Farder Coram) was given short shrift with the time constraints.

The acting is superb, with Lyra a standout. I was disappointed in Nicole Kidman's portrayal of Mrs. Coulter. Her performance lacked the depth and edge that another actor could have provided. And why was she blonde?

The film was more violent than most I choose to see, but all the violence was integral to the story, necessary, and a reminder that children's lives are often not the sanitized, pleasant existence we like to pretend they are -- and that children themselves can in fact cope with courage and optimism. Scenes of tussles between daemons can be shocking, and the bear fight was outstanding. There is no spattering of blood or gratuitous violence.

The film is beautiful and satisfying, and I hope the sequels live up to the standards exhibited here.

Not the usual network fare. The story may be an old one, but the cast delivers and there are some amusing barbs that strike home. The Hispanic-American environment for Betty's family gives the formula new life, with true-to-life touches like the telenovela playing on the TV at home. Mark Indelicato as Betty's nephew is believable with a subtle touch in a role that could easily be overplayed for cheap laughs. Vanessa Williams gets a chance to vamp as the conniving, power-hungry rival for the company, and Gina Gershon offers a wonderful parody -- or is it? -- of an aging supermodel. The Beautiful People -- and the less-than-perfect who also inhabit their world, however under-appreciated -- are here in force.

I'm amazed at the the number of positive comments, as well as their enthusiasm and length, since I found this production to have little to recommend it. Some good (and some great) actors, yes -- but no stellar performances here. The main character was a stoic lad with about as wooden a face as I've encountered in film. The story was told, embellishments were eschewed -- but there was, in my opinion, no life to the film. It was no better than one of the worst Masterpiece Theatre productions (and they've gotten very pedestrian), and much less entertaining, less well written, less well acted than the best of those shows. All in all, I thought it a superficial retelling with lackluster performances.

This is a feel-good movie. You will enjoy it, laugh, maybe even cry, despite being able to predict what is going to happen. Banderas does a nice, understated job and the actors portraying the urban kids are outstanding. I didn't like some of the camera angles and chafed at the dance shots often being too close up to really see what the moves were, but the choices in filming undeniably added to both the realism and the energy of the scenes.

Altho based on a true story, one has to wonder how much was added for dramatic effect. Some of the relationships/developments seem just too trite and stereotyped -- and yet the portrayals are enjoyable enough that ultimately you don't care. After the number of times audience members laughed or exclaimed over scenes or lines in the movie, I was surprised that they didn't clap at the end -- it's that kind of movie. It reminded me of both Strictly Ballroom and Stand and Deliver. You won't be sorry you've seen it.

Was this a pilot? It felt like it, and if so, hey, we could do worse than have a show like this on the air. It included elements from a lot of movies and a whole lot of CGI, so it was almost a melding of a movie and a video game. It was pretty, it was fun, Noah Wyle showed an aptitude for comedy and if the characters were stock, they were well done. And Bob Newhart and Jane Curtin? Perfect!

Sure, it didn't have a lot of depth, but it was escape entertainment, not literary drama. The lead is a brain (a very nice role model to offer the kiddies) and part of the fun is seeing if you pick up the literary/mythological allusions before they're explained (admittedly not hard, but if they were to continue this story, increasing obscurity would be expected. Curious viewers will end up researching all sorts of things they never learned in school.) If you liked _Sky Captain_, this should be right up your alley.

The humor may not be subtle nor original, but it's enjoyable. Good actors make for nice touches, even when their characters are one-dimensional. Considering the quality and thrust of a lot of successful TV shows now (Paris Hilton? Fear Factor?), a rousing story with old fashioned chills and thrills should not be rejected because it isn't sufficiently challenging. Sometimes, folks just want to chill out and watch a flick. It leaves you smiling, and there are nice touches here and there. There's a place for meringue in our film diets, as well as more serious fare.

The story line isn't new, but the telling is, and the actors are first class. There are marvelous touches of humor and poignant yet subtle comments on the human condition. It's a cop film, it's film noir, it's a love story, it's a family drama – a well written, beautifully acted film that will intrigue you and also make you angry. You'll be angry (if you have any sense) because you'll have had a rare chance to see an ensemble of Asian American actors you probably never saw before. Only a couple of the actors will be familiar at all, from single roles in a couple of big films. The talent in this cast and crew is remarkable, and most American film goers will never get the chance to notice their work. Spend an evening with this movie and enjoy a rare treat.

I saw this on tv while living abroad, when it was presented over several nights. The first night was fantastic -- and I recommended it to others on that basis. Unfortunately, the stories as they played out subsequently failed, IMO, to live up to the first couple of hours. Still, there are some strong performances and interesting situations in this series set in Europe around WW2.

I prefer this to the better-known _The Good Life_, in which Briers appeared with the adorable Felicity Kendal. Martin is maddening, the man who "means well" but takes everything to excess: a man of basic decency and love for his wife who manages to infuriate or confound all. Wilton is deft as the wife and and Egan superb as a neighbor and rival; "Howard & Hilda" provide further comedy as a devoted couple who don't always quite keep up. A funny commentary on life in community associations as well as marriage, commitment, and temptation.