Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Flubber (1997)

Oy vey. I didn't even care for the original movie, but it was significantly better than this. The flubber is intelligent? This guy has created all sorts of amazing inventions, like a sentient robot, and yet his college is still struggling to make any money? This movie is just nonsense. The thin plot becomes even thinner, the jokes are bland, and what the HECK is up with the robot suffering from unrequited love? Were people just sitting around saying, "You know what would be completely idiotic and random if we put it in the movie? LET'S DO IT!" Sigh. Don't bother with this. 1 star.

Horton Hears a Who! (2008)

This is actually a very good movie. Despite whatever political connotations you want to draw from it (I found it fascinatingly faith-based, but I've heard others draw other conclusions), it's just a solidly good story about valuing people. It's got some very good laughs... as well as a few that didn't quite make it, but came close. Steve Carell does a great job as the mayor, while Jim Carrey is good but occasionally over-the-top (of course) as Horton. This is the first good kids' movie I've seen in awhile... Thank goodness for Hollywood occasionally getting it right! 4 stars.

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Calamity Jane (1953)

I am clearly musical-starved, because I enjoyed this far more than I should have. Heh. It's your typical 1950s musical. (Bears an uncanny resemblance to Annie Get Your Gun.) The songs are fun but not spectacular or very memorable. Overall, one of those movies that gets lost among all the dozens of others just exactly like it. 2.5 stars.

Enchanted (2007)

This was disappointing... It's got a great premise and a good cast, so it should have been much better than it was. I think the main problem was they tried to cloud it with too many side characters and too much extra plot. I was really only interested in the part of the story featuring Giselle and her prince... The evil queen and her minion's entrances into New York just seemed unnecessary. And the final ending scene went on FAR too long. But these moments didn't completely overshadow the rest of the movie, which was really enjoyable, so I'll give it 3 1/2.