2.5 Rated Films

• Maid in Manhattan (12/18/02)

• Barbershop (9/14/02)

• Spiderman: Tobey Maguire, Willem Dafoe, and Kirsten Dunst stars in this blockbuster based on the Marvel Comics' superhero.  The acting is good; the screenplay is corny at times; the plot stays basically true to the original comic book.  The computer-generated special effects look good sometimes and bad other times.  (5/11/02)

• Blade II: Wesley Snipes stars in this sequel to the vampire-slayer action film.  The action scenes are as good (maybe better) than the original, but you can really see the computer effects.  The plot and story are standard action fair, so prepare yourself for just a bunch of fights, explosions, and blood. (3/31/02)

• Lantana: This Austrailian film has an ensemble cast featuring Anthony LaPaglia, Geoffrey Rush, and Barbara Hershey.  This movie is not standard; it has plenty of character development and the writing is o.k.  The rating of this film is such simply because it is too slow and not very exciting.  (2/3/02)

• Fat Girl: This average French film is about two teenage sisters and their relationship.  The 14-year-old younger sister has a weight problem and a hot-cold relationship with her 16-year-old sexually active sibling.  The film has some realistic scenes and the ending is strange.  (1/12/02)

• Ali: This biopic directed by Michael Mann stars Will Smith as the legendary boxer.  The film is too long (more than 2.5 hours) for the duration of Ali's life covered (1964 - 1974).  The movie is average; definitely not as good as Mann's "Heat" or "The Insider".  (12/25/01)

• Spy Game: Robert Redford and Brad Pitt star in this espionage picture.  The film's plot is presented with 1/3 present day CIA and 2/3 flashbacks to the 1970's and 1980's; this device makes the film rather slow.  The acting is good, but there was not much action.  (11/24/01)

• Riding in Cars With Boys: This film, based on a true story, shows the ups and mostly downs of the life of teen-mother Bev D'onofrio.  Drew Barrymore and the rest of the cast do a respectable job, but my problem with the film is Penny Marshall's direction.  Like some of Marshall's other films, this film is a little too long for the story being told and a little too light for the serious issues being raised.  (10/24/01)

• Ghost World: Thora Birth, Scarlett Johansson, and Steve Buscemi star in this film about 2 highly sarcastic, rebellious high school students who try to find their way after graduation.  The plot works o.k., but loses steam somewhere in the middle.  The acting is good, with Buscemi's social misfit record collector being the highlight.  (8/26/01)

• Rush Hour 2:  Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan star in this sequel to the 1998 surprise hit.  Notice that Chris Tucker is billed first as this is just a Chris Tucker jokefest with a little action sprinkled in.  Tucker is funny sometimes (check out the bloopers at the end), but too much of him and not enough action makes an average movie.  (8/3/01)

• Pearl Harbor: Ben Affleck, Kate Beckinsale, and Josh Hardnett star in this romance, war movie.  The war scenes are good, but the romance scenes left me hollow.  3-hour epics usually need 3 or 4 stories to carry them, but this movie only has 1.  (6/2/01)

• Exit Wounds: Steven Seagal and DMX star in this drug-dealing/crooked-cop drama.  This movie is a little lighter than previous Seagal films and their are a lot of shooting scenes, car chases, and "who's side is he on?" moments.  I am pleased to report that Seagal has changed his broken limb of choice from the arm to the leg.  (4/16/01)

• Before Night Falls:  This film is based on the story of Cuban writer Reinaldo Arenas and his struggles as a homosexual during the Castro revolution.  Javier Bardem definitely gives an "Oscar"-caliber performance, but he is the only truly shining part of the film.  The film meanders through the plot and did not get me emotionally involved.  (02/24/01)

• Saving Silverman: Two goofy friends try to sabotage their best's friends romance with a woman who thinks they are "two goofy friends".  There are some funny moments in this film, but the film is far from a masterpiece.  The cast is good and the Neil Diamond references were definitely entertaining.  (2/5/01)

• Shadow of the Vampire: John Malkovich and Willem Dafoe star in this film based on the making of the film "Nosferatu".  Dafoe's performance is excellent, but the rest of the film did not move me too much.  The pace of the movie is too slow for the above average climax at the end.  (2/3/01)

• Chocolat: The enjoyment and passion of life is the point fed to you in this film.  A woman and her chocolate shop rock a small French village (kind of like an European "Harper Valley PTA").  The acting is ok, and the plot, "sans" one or two surprises, is average.  (1/27/01)

• Charlie's Angels: Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz, Lucy Liu, and Bill Murray star in this movie from the 1970's TV show.  This movie is so stupid, goofy, impossible, and cheesy that it is somewhat entertaining.  This movie did what it was supposed to do: titillate and make you forget about your troubles for two hours.  (11/3/00)

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