Category Archives: Reviews

Wilde

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The story of the rise and fall of Oscar Wilde. The witty playwright and author goes around poking fun at high English society and enjoying sex with young men. As he would argue – not that dirty, lust-filled bathroom sex, but intellectual mentor-protégé discourse… um, just like the ancient Greeks. Well, whatever it was, it was illegal in late 1800’s England. I never really knew much about Oscar Wilde… This movie seems to be a pretty good portrayal of his story. I’m not sure how technically accurate it is, but the acting, writing and directing are all quite good. (Yes, there are depictions of gay sex in it.) Also, I’m always impressed by “period” movies that really take you to a different time and place. Sometimes they try to hard, and make a big deal about how certain things were so different “way back when”. In a good period movie, nothing is too special – it presents a better picture of the reality of the day. Wilde did just that, the setting and characters were all believable. If you somehow missed the story of Oscar Wilde in the course of your life, this movie might be just the thing to make up for that.

 

White Squall

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It took a while to “get going”, but it was OK. I think this movie suffers from what I call “little picture disease”. No matter how well it was done, it was nothing more than a little story about a unique series of events. It doesn’t really “comment on the human condition” or something like that. I know, not all movies have to do that, but it’s too bad that they all can’t. One thing… so is there such a thing as a white squall?

 

When We Were Kings

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“We will be in ‘zee air’ till we get to Zaire”. A documentary of a specially unique moment – the Rumble in the Jungle between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman. Ali is the favorite, the underdog, the champion and the challenger. George Foreman comes off looking like the chump he was (he’s almost like a completely different person now). This movie is less about fighting, and more about society, social dynamics, and funk. See it even if you abhor boxing.

 

What Dreams May Come

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I really liked the concept of this movie – we all make our own afterlife, whether it’s heaven or hell is up to us. That makes a lot more sense than the dictatorial / judgmental Christian view. Well, none of it makes sense anyway, but I did like this movie. There were some annoying parts, but the movie was visually interesting enough to overcome any writing or acting shortcomings.

 

Weekend at Bernie’s

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How long is it possible to stretch out one stupid joke? about an hour and a half. I think they ran through just about every possible situation and scenario and circumstance that has to do with a dead body. Oh, wait, I guess there were more – they made a sequel. I’m proud to say that I have not seen the sequel! At least I don’t think I have… I’m not really sure… how different from the original could it have been?

 

The Wedding Singer

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Probably the best thing that Adam Sandler has done. I know that he’s a genuinely talented and funny guy… so why has he done so many freakin’ obnoxious movies? I dunno, I guess his crummy movies have made a lot of money, so maybe he’s smarter than I thought. And Drew Barrymore? she does the “adorable kind of girl you wanna fall in love with” really well. (although she can be over the top sometimes)

 

Wayne’s World

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This movie had some good scenes… and some that should have stayed on the cutting room floor. I guess it was enjoyable, but there is just something that bothers me about this movie… I can’t put my finger on it. It’s almost like it was trying to be cheesy and classic at the same time… that just doesn’t work. I’d put this movie in the same category as Strange Brew, but Strange Brew doesn’t leave me with that same feeling… do you know what I mean? I’m not sure I do.

 

Wargames

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It’s amazing how well this movie has stood the test of time. I just saw it and it’s just as timely. Sure, the technology has changed, and the cold war is over… but the message of the movie is perhaps even more pertinent today. One thing didn’t make sense though – how did the computer voice suddenly “come on” at the end of the movie (when they’re all in the war room)? The voice was originally made with a little box in Lightman’s room… Ya, I know it makes the ending more dramatic. I just hate it when movies sacrifice common sense for dramatic effect. This movie does it another time too – when Ally Sheedy says they should “swim for it.”, then, “what kind of asshole grows up in Seattle and doesn’t know how to swim”. I guess it shows how Lightman has missed out on things due to his computer obsession and is now confronted with the possible “end of time”. But, Seattle has nothing to do with swimming. Puget Sound is so damn cold – nobody could swim a ferry route. (well, I heard that some guy did one, but he wore a wet suit or something).

 

Waking Life

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At first I thought this movie was really pretentious… I didn’t want to be preached to… but, the movie grew on me as it progressed. It’s really a bunch of short clips of people musing / philosophising on aspects of life & reality & the state of man, etc. The animation was really interesting, for me, it made the movie more dreamlike, and although at first it was a distraction (it made it difficult to follow the dialog), I think later it accented the dialog in a way that would have been impossible otherwise… much the way black and white is sometimes better than color.

 

Waitress

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I really wanted to like this movie… but alas, it was predictable, and it tried too hard to go this way or that. The story just wasn’t believable. For example, why was the main character ever with her husband? He’s a complete moron with absolutely no redeeming qualities, whereas she’s interesting… and knockout gorgeous. They could have explained this better. I saw the end coming a mile away.

 

Wagons East

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Pretty dumb, kind of like a bunch of people were sitting around with nothing to do, so they decided to make a movie. The premise was a little funny though – a bunch of people migrate to the wild west and realize, “This sucks, lets go back home!”. It was John Candy’s last movie – or was that Canadian Bacon?