Master and Commander

The movie under review today is director Peter Weir's (The Truman Show) film Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World. During the Napoleonic Wars, Captain "Lucky" Jack Aubrey (Russell Crowe-A Beautiful Mind) has sailed his crew 'across the world', bringing the battle to the waters off the coast of Brazil. Seeking revenge on a french man-o-war that nearly sunk them, the crew of the HMS Surprise embarks on a dangerous chase for God, country and glory. Also starring Paul Bettany (A Beautiful Mind), Billy Boyd (Lord of the Rings Trilogy), and introducing Max Pirkis, among many others.

I thoroughly enjoyed this film. Master and Commander starts out with a bang, and carries the momentum through to the end. So much happens in the course of the movie, but when it's all over, you are left with a feeling that this was a 'day in the life' of these sailors. Visually, the film is stunning, with excellent camera work and special effects. The story is vivid and encompassing, with natural and flowing dialogue. By the climax, the audience knows a little about each man and boy on board. Crowe and Bettany are excellent; the interaction between the two of them is wonderful. Kudos to the rest of the cast, where the parts were many, but the lines few, for creating realistic characters. Most notably is young Pirkis, a boy of perhaps 10 or 12, who portrayed the role of Will Blakeney, a midshipman, with such strength and courage that he stole every scene he was in. In all, an excellent film, and well worth the journey.


Bettany and Crowe


Max Pirkis

Rating: 4.5 (out of 5)

Labels: Drama

posted by Lisa at 11:02 a.m. |

 
In the year 2003, Uma Thurman will Kill Bill

The movie I am reviewing is Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill: Volume 1. This film is about a woman known as The Bride (Uma Thurman-Hysterical Blindness), an assassin who was attacked on her wedding day. Four years later, she wakes up from a coma wanting nothing more than revenge on the people responsible. Most of all, she wants to kill Bill, her former boss. Also starring David Carradine (American Reel), Luci Liu (Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle), Daryl Hannah (The Job), Vivica A. Fox (Boat Trip), and Michael Madsen (The Distance).

I have mixed emotions about this film. I admire what Tarantino did with the film, creating what was essentially a live-action anime. The camera work and cinematography was wonderful, each contributing to a visually stunning piece. The story was nothing spectacular, and in fact, was rather disappointing. It lacked originality, and was redeemed only by Tarantino's typical skewed storytelling. As for casting, Thurman was a good choice, and the effort she put into the film was obvious right from the beginning. Liu was also a great choice, and is really making her mark as a female action star. As for the rest of cast, their parts were quite small, and I'm sure will prove equally good choices when Volume 2 comes out. While I have a healthy respect for what Tarantino accomplished, it is not his best work by any means. Who knows, maybe it will be like "Pulp Fiction"-maybe I have to watch it a few times to enjoy it.


Thurman and Liu battle

Rating: 3 (out of 5)

Labels: Action, Adventure

posted by Lisa at 12:00 p.m. |

 
The Top 100 Movies of All Time

According to the American Film Institute, these are the top 100 movies of all time. I'm amazed at how many I haven't seen! I've highlighted the ones I have seen. I've got some renting to do!

The Complete List:
1. CITIZEN KANE (1941)
2. CASABLANCA (1942)
3. THE GODFATHER (1972)
4. GONE WITH THE WIND (1939)
5. LAWRENCE OF ARABIA (1962)
6. THE WIZARD OF OZ (1939)
7. THE GRADUATE (1967)
8. ON THE WATERFRONT (1954)
9. SCHINDLER'S LIST (1993)
10. SINGIN' IN THE RAIN (1952)
11. IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946)
12. SUNSET BOULEVARD (1950)
13. THE BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI (1957)
14. SOME LIKE IT HOT (1959)
15. STAR WARS (1977)
16. ALL ABOUT EVE (1950)
17. THE AFRICAN QUEEN (1951)
18. PSYCHO (1960)
19. CHINATOWN (1974)
20. ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST (1975)
21. THE GRAPES OF WRATH (1940)
22. 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY (1968)
23. THE MALTESE FALCON (1941)
24. RAGING BULL (1980)
25. E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL (1982)
26. DR. STRANGELOVE (1964)
27. BONNIE AND CLYDE (1967)
28. APOCALYPSE NOW (1979)
29. MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON (1939)
30. THE TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE (1948)
31. ANNIE HALL (1977)
32. THE GODFATHER PART II (1974)
33. HIGH NOON (1952)
34. TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD (1962)
35. IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT (1934)
36. MIDNIGHT COWBOY (1969)
37. THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES (1946)
38. DOUBLE INDEMNITY (1944)
39. DOCTOR ZHIVAGO (1965)
40. NORTH BY NORTHWEST (1959)
41. WEST SIDE STORY (1961)
42. REAR WINDOW (1954)
43. KING KONG (1933)
44. THE BIRTH OF A NATION (1915)
45. A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE (1951)
46. A CLOCKWORK ORANGE (1971)
47. TAXI DRIVER (1976)
48. JAWS (1975)
49. SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS (1937)
50. BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID (1969)
51. THE PHILADELPHIA STORY (1940)
52. FROM HERE TO ETERNITY (1953)
53. AMADEUS (1984)
54. ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT (1930)
55. THE SOUND OF MUSIC (1965)
56. M*A*S*H (1970)
57. THE THIRD MAN (1949)
58. FANTASIA (1940)
59. REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE (1955)
60. RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK (1981)
61. VERTIGO (1958)
62. TOOTSIE (1982)
63. STAGECOACH (1939)
64. CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND (1977)
65. THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS (1991)
66. NETWORK (1976)
67. THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE (1962)
68. AN AMERICAN IN PARIS (1951)
69. SHANE (1953)
70. THE FRENCH CONNECTION (1971)
71. FORREST GUMP (1994)
72. BEN-HUR (1959)
73. WUTHERING HEIGHTS (1939)
74. THE GOLD RUSH (1925)
75. DANCES WITH WOLVES (1990)
76. CITY LIGHTS (1931)
77. AMERICAN GRAFFITI (1973)
78. ROCKY (1976)
79. THE DEER HUNTER (1978)
80. THE WILD BUNCH (1969)
81. MODERN TIMES (1936)
82. GIANT (1956)
83. PLATOON (1986)
84. FARGO (1996)
85. DUCK SOUP (1933)
86. MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY (1935)
87. FRANKENSTEIN (1931)
88. EASY RIDER (1969)
89. PATTON (1970)
90. THE JAZZ SINGER (1927)
91. MY FAIR LADY (1964)
92. A PLACE IN THE SUN (1951)
93. THE APARTMENT (1960)
94. GOODFELLAS (1990)
95. PULP FICTION (1994)
96. THE SEARCHERS (1956)
97. BRINGING UP BABY (1938)
98. UNFORGIVEN (1992)
99. GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER (1967)
100. YANKEE DOODLE DANDY (1942)

Labels: AFI

posted by Lisa at 6:38 p.m. |