If you read my review of the first Austin Powers movie, near the end, I wrote how I hope that they would make it into a franchise like the James Bond series. Well they made my wish come true with The Spy Who Shagged Me, but after watching it, I might have to change my mind about what I said.
The second installment of Austin Powers features the same jokes from the first one. Did we run out of ideas already in just the second movie? If I wanted to hear the same catch phrases again, I would have watched the first one, which were far more entertaining.
In The Spy Who Shagged Me, Dr. Evil goes back in time to the 60's and steals Austin's Mojo. Austin also travels back in time to stop Dr. Evil and tries to retrieve back his Mojo with the help of one Felicity Shagwell (a name that belongs with Pussy Galore).
Along with Dr. Evil and Number Two, there is Mini-Me (a smaller clone of Dr. Evil) and Fat Bastard to help battle Austin. Fat Bastard is probably the saving grace of the movie, as he constantly has a craving for food, especially a pint-size baby. One of the funniest scenes in the movie is when Fat Bastard meets Mini-Me, who coincidently resembles a baby.
I enjoyed how they handled Austin's marriage to Vanessa, Fat Bastard and Felicity Shagwell, but everything else was recycled material and dragged the movie. While the first was smart and funny, this movie felt rushed. We all know that reciting the same catch phrases over and over does not make it a good film, but a tedious one. Grade: C+.
BOUND (1996, R) 108 MIN
Bound is like a roller coaster ride. It starts off slow and easy, but once you get to the top, it quickly pushes you to exhilarating speeds. While you go through the many loops and turns, you are screaming and laughing all the way. And at the end of the ride, you feel exhausted, but strong enough to do it again (or watch it again).
The film begins like any film-noir, a sexy woman proposing a propostion, but instead of a hardboiled man, it's another sexy woman. The sexy woman (umm...the second one) has moved into the apartment, which is next door to the second sexy women and her mobster boyfriend (Caesar). Of course the two (Corky and Violet) become passionate for one another. Violet tells Corky that she wants to escape from Caesar and start a new life.
Then an opportunity presents itself where they can get their hands on two million in cash. They both decide to hatch a plan where they keep the money and frame it on Caesar.
Now the roller coaster has started its descent, as the caper doesn't go as smoothly as they want it too. We hold our breath for what seems like an eternity as Violet and Corky try to pull off what seems the impossible. Just when they think they are out of the woods, another wrench is thrown in and stops their getaway.
When I sat in my seat to watch Bound, I had no clue what I was in for, which made it all the better. Bound is one of those rare films that can create suspense and hold it to the last scene. It is brillant, shocking and smart.
Everyone is smart and not easily fooled in this film, which is rare in a movie. So it simply becomes a question of who is the smartest? Grade: B+.
ELECTION (1999, R) 103 MIN
Election is one of the best, if not, the best movie I have seen this year. The main story is about a political science teacher's attempt to foil one of his students from winning an election for Student Body President. Of course there are other subplots that follow these people, including adultrey. This all leads to a conflict that will eventually change their lives and the people around them.
The student's name is Tracey Flick. I am sure that if I ask, you could name a Tracy Flick from your school. You know the type. A very smart kid, has perfect attendance, proper, etc. They seem to know every question the teachers ask and they are constantly trying to prove it to everyone. They participate in every extra-curricular activity because it looks good on a college application.
Well, here Tracey is set on running for the Student Body President. She is so intent to win (although we find out that she has no other opponents) that she arrives early to school to set up her booth that is filled with cupcakes and buttons for everyone. She has a fierceness and dedication that is unmatched, like her role models Diane Sawyer and Connie Chung.
Then there is the teacher, Jim McAllister, who is a favorite among all the students. We find out that he has a certain hatred for people like Tracey and decides to ruin Tracey's inevitable victory by convincing another person (a jock) to run.
Election is a funny, entertaining and original film. It has characters that do not follow conventional models. Everyone is not as clean cut as they appear to be. My favorite scene is where we see Jim go down to his basement and watches a porno film, while he drinks a soda and eats some potato chip. It's like he's watching a football game. Grade: A.
IN THE COMPANY OF MEN (1997, R) 97 MIN
In The Company Of Men is one of the most brutal, evil, uncompromising and unforgiving film I have ever seen, which makes it a favorite of mine.
Two men are on a business trip (sounds like a beginning to a punchline) talking about their recent breakups with women. Both have been scorned by their loved ones and both feel angry how they were treated. Unhappy, they decide to boost their worth and ego, by turning the tables. One proposes a plan to find a woman, a vulnerable one, and have them both court her. Both men would shower her with gifts and love, making her feel like she is on air. And when the moment is right, they both dump her and leave her to wallow in her misery. Since, they are only staying for a few weeks, they wouldn't have to see her again. The other man is hesitant, but eventually agrees.
When they arrive, they find the perfect target in Christine, who is deaf. Both men ask her out and they shower her with-well you know the plan. However, the plan begins to backfire, when one of the men begins to have feelings for her. This all leads to an ending which is unpredictable and reveals how controlling people can be.
In The Company Of Men is about power. Who weilds it and who becomes the brunt of it? The film asks the question, which one are you?
Some people may not enjoy how sinister these men are, but I wonder if it is said with a little fear behind it, since these men can easily be qualities we find in ourselves. Grade: A.
MATRIX, THE (1999, R) 136 MIN
Finally, a sci-fi movie that features some brains in the plot, with the usual brawn. In the past few years, sci-fi movies seem to bear a striking resemblance with action films. They give you a simple idea for the first couple of minutes and fill the rest of the picture with special effects and mindless action.
Fortunately, The Matrix gives the audience a little more than just eye candy for us but an intriguing question, "What is the Matrix?" Of course, no one can ever talk about the Matrix, they have to see it, informs a character name Morpheous.
We spend half of the picture with Neo trying to answer that question. And what an adventure it is, as my eyes never left the screen, dazzled and amazed by the secrets the Matrix contained. I dare not say what it is, as unraveling the secret is half the fun. But I will say this, Neo writes computer software for a company by day, but at night he is a hacker. One night, a message turns on the computer screen and asks him to meet someone at a club. The person he meets asks him to go on a journey that will profoundly change him. The question is will Neo accept?
The Matrix, with it's wondorous special effects (gravity defying leaps, slo-mo's, 360 degree freeze-frame shots), is one of the few sci-fi/action movies that doesn't follow Hollywood conventions (well most of the time it doesn't). It is one of the most intriguing idea since the sci-fi film Gattaca, which I also liked. Grade: B.
OCTOBER SKY (1999, PG) 108 MIN
There are some people who gaze upon the night sky and they wonder, Why Not?. Why not be a part of it?
On October 5, 1957, the Russians launched Sputnik and captured the attention of everyone in the world. One of them was Homer Hickam, who at that point instantly knew where he wanted to go (Why Not?). Like his hero, Werner von Braun, Homer, with the help of his four friends, decide to build a functional model rocket. Although, Werner von Bruan was working with the real thing, they both were experiencing the same problems.
His father is the supervisor of the mine and wants Homer to take over. However, Homer has dreams of bigger and better things than becoming a coal miner stuck in a barren town. Homer hopes for the chance to work with the real thing. His obstacles and problems with making the rocket work becomes the film, as we are right beside these guys, cheering and fighting for it to work.
October Sky is based on the true story of Homer Hickam, who does make his dream a reality as he now works for NASA. The struggle and hard work they have to face (the montage of the non-functional rockets is one of the best scenes in the film) is motivating, as they teach us that dreams are what you make of it. You will easily be won over by this film. Grade: B+.
PATRIOT, THE (2000, R) 160 MIN
A man decides to lead a band of men to defeat a larger and more sophisticated army that is controlled by the king. No the movie I am talking about is not Braveheart (although it times I wish it were), but the American version of it called The Patriot.
It is 1776 and the fight for independence from the British has begun, where it is being fought on American soil. One of the men we hope will lead us to victory is Benjamin "The Ghost" Martin (the American William Wallace).
Despite his love for the state, he chooses not to fight, but is eventually forced to change his mind (I bet you didn't see that coming) when his land and home is destroyed. We follow Martin's attempts to hold his side of the British Army from going North as he uses guerilla tactics.
Because it is a historic picture, we are informed that slaves who fought in the war, were given there freedom after a couple of years of service. See you can learn from movies.
The Patriot does fill the requirements of a summer blockbuster (action, blood, romance, the villian dies by the hero's hand), but is that what we really want. Besides, there were times when the movie felt like a rerun of Braveheart, which made me want to watch that instead. Grade: C+.
THIS IS SPINAL TAP (1984, R) 82 MIN
David St. Hubbins, Nigel Tufnel, Derek Smalls. When you hear these names, two words should pop into your head for I can only be talking about the one and only, Spinal Tap. They are probably the most famous group of musicians you never heard of. One of their fans, Marty DeBergi, has decided to make a documentary of his favorite British rock band.
Spinal Tap has decided to do a tour in America and we get to tag along. We find out during the trip the band is experiencing some bumps and bruises. Some of the places on the tour have cancelled, their fan base has dwindled, and there is some controversy over their new album cover (a naked woman wearing a dog leash). And of course there is that pesky distraction of their drummers mysteriously disappearing.
I hope that you realize that this documentary is really a mockumentary. However I won't blame you, as there are times when we can't believe those are actors in front of us who have brought us such hits as "Sex Farm" and "Big Bottom." Guest, McKean and Shearer, who play the members of Spinal Tap, play the rock n roll attitude so perfectly that we wonder if the jokes are meant to be taken seriously.
This Is Spinal Tap is done perfectly as it has produced a lot of imitators throughout the years. Now if that doesn't impress you, then remember this: the whole film was improvised as there was no script. Scenes were planned out ahead of time, but the dialogue was improvised. Grade: A.
US MARSHALS (1998, PG-13) 127 MIN
Chief Deputy Marshal Samuel Gerard and his merry crew of marshals return to the unofficial sequel to The Fugitive, US Marshals. This time they are chasing one Mark Sheridan, who survives a plane crash and escapes the backwaters of Missouri. He maybe a little more challenging than Dr. Kimble, as he has a military background (but that is a secret). Let the hunt begin!
If you saw The Fugitive, then you will not be surprised by how this movie is structured. The only thing that has changed is the setting and the fugitive. We basically have Gerard running around trying to anticipate Mark's next move, but always being one step behind him. Mark gets away, always in a spectacular and death-defying stunt. Then halfway into the movie, Gerard begins to believe that he may be innocent of his crime.
While watching the movie, I kept wondering that Gerard's superiors should notice how his fugitives always are innocent of their crime. It takes an exorbitant amount of money and manpower to capture them and they always get away from him. Maybe he should retire.
The movie is worth seeing only if you want to see Tommy Lee Jones play Samuel Gerard and some of the stunts (I did hope he was going to land on the train roof instead of the station roof). However, it did dawn on me that Tommy Lee Jones acts like Samuel Gerard in every action movie anyway. Actually, it more than hurts than helps the movie if you think about it. We know how Gerard is going to react in any situation, since we already seen it in the first one. Grade: C.
WATERBOY, THE (1998, PG-13) 89 MIN
I seem to have recognized a pattern with Adam Sandler movies and have thus developed a rule. Here it is: If I find that Adam's character talks in a strange voice, I hate the movie and if he talks in a normal voice, I like the movie. Well since, Adam's character in The Waterboy talks with a slow and whiny voice, all signs point to me disliking the moving. The rule has spoken and let it not be questioned.
Bobby Boucher is the waterboy for a college football team in Florida (which means there will be plenty of alligator jokes). He seems to be an expert on H20, but he doesn't gain any respect from his teammates. The coach fires him and Bobby finds another job for another team. Unfortunately, the team isn't any good ( they have to share helmets). Despite being in a new environment, they still ridicule Bobby, which causes him to find his new talent, tackling people into comas.
Now if you know anything about sport movies, Bobby will eventually become a hero and lead his team into the championship game. He will also find a girl and they will fall in love, plus he will meet his old team in the championship game.
They are times when I found myself laughing (the scenes with Kathy Bates as his protective mother are entertaining), but the movie goes for cheap laughs too many times. Besides the rule is never wrong, so I have to stick with that. Grade: C.