Momma's Past Picks 'n Pans 
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  Oh what a delight Out of Sight was 'n NOT because we had suffered thru the painful viewing of the last two burning baggers! This one had a great story, wonderful characters you care about, crosses and double-crosses, laughter, sex and as da hunk pointed out, not one car chase! This enjoyable film is another fine adaption of an Elmore Leonard crime novel and like "Get Shorty" tells the tale with great style 'n panache. George Clooney lights up the screen and there's nothing about this guy you don't like even as he robs the bank! He's just loveable 'n likable! Jennifer Lopez was a perfect match for our sweet bank robber 'n the chemistry between the two was certainly the right mixture. Ving Rhames plays Clooney's partner in crime. Altho driven to confess his crimes to his sister, you know he could be counted on as the perfect partner 'n honorable buddy. Steve Zahn was an absolute hoot as the perpetually stoned Neil 'n Dennis Farina could play my daddy any ole time! There are some surprise cameos sprinkled throughout to further your entertainment. This movie left me with a smile on my face 'n it will do the same for you. |
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 Be Afraid ... be very afraid! Not of the so called Astroid the size of Texas ... but of seeing this movie! Jerry Bruckheimer's Armageddon Should be titled "The Dirty Dozen's Con Air Space Contact Misadventure That Will Make You Wish For Armageddon So You Don't Have To See The Whole Movie." For your seven dollars you get 2 1/2 hours of endless special effects, sprinkled here 'n there with 5 minute touchy feelies and insipid dialog straight outta Buck Rogers, 'n a pummel-your senses-volume-to-da-max-soundtrack. Science and logic ... NOT ...Endless commercial for NASA ...YES! Credibility? ... I won't bore you with the dirty details of the dual shuttle launch to the asteroid landing to the "let's jump over the huge canyon in our nifty ATV" tension sequence. Just know the world is again safe thanks to the good ole USA 'n NASA for democracy and more blockbusters that are all flash and no substance! Liv Tyler and Billy Bob Thornton were the only interesting characters and unfortunately weren't on screen nearly enuff to alieviate my pain. A Summer BlockBuster...NOT! A Summer Bust...YES! Save your money boys 'n girls as Zorro and Lethal4 are just around the corner!!!!!!! |
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To say I looked forward to X-Files: Fight The Future with great anticipation would be an understatment at best! I've been a long term fan of The X-Files and Chris Carter since da hunk turned me on to this fine series five years ago. Continuous fine writing, acting, and visual effects has made the series some of the very best viewing on TV! So Scully, Mulder, the cigarette man, the black oil, the burning questions, the multi-layered conspiracies, 'n all the rest of the ingredients that make the X-Files so yummy 'n irrestible finally come to the big screen. Wooha! ... finally the truth is here ... what's not to love?! ... sadly the answer is everything! Personally I fear that Chris Carter himself has been abducted, as the script was an absolute disaster from start to finish. My first clue of impending disaster was right at the beginning when our beloved Feds blow up one of their own buildings for the sole purpose of destroying three tell tale alien-virus-ridden-bodies. They could have quietly buried them, but hey, bombs are more flashy. I'll buy that ... but the problematic bodies however, somehow remain totally intact 'n unscathed except for the glaring fact that they were the main course of a virus's brunch menu to await the inquiring exam by our dynamic duo when the building they were hidden in 'n a good chunk of the surrounding Dallas neighborhood were totally destroyed. Hhmmmm ... and it only gets worse! This plodding illogical script has holes big enough to fly a fleet of space ships thru! I could go on 'n on ... scene by scene (oh the pain of that whole Anarctic sequence) with endless examples of what was wrong with this movie, but then I would be spending much more time on this review than the writers apparently spent on the movie script! Yes, I'm angry and feel ripped off as this movie wouldn't even play well as one of the televised episodes! The title of this film is "X-Files: Fight The Future"... |
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 Rarely does a great book translate well into a good movie.I eagerly anticipated Nicholas Evans' wonderful The Horse Whisperer coming to the big screen once I found out Robert Redford had bought the rights 'n would be acting 'n directing.Well so much for my great expectations! I loved parts and hated parts equally ... talk 'bout making me schizophrenic! The casting of Kristin Scott Thomas as Annie was a total mistake right off the top. The-english-patient's-girlfriend-does-the-horse-whisperer was not the movie I wanted to see but that's what Thomas brought to the role for me. Redford made a perfect Tom Booker 'n even if he is getting long in the tooth, he sure could place his boots under my bed any ole time. He was very mesmerizing 'n believable as Tom ... but not with the Annie that Kristin Thomas portrayed ... no chemistry at all! The screen play was another big major disappointment.What where they thinking? Perhaps it worked better for those viewers who hadn't read the book. Da hunk liked it better than I did 'n he hadn't read the original novel. Mind you there are some incredible moments and vistas not to be missed. As an ole horse trainer myself, I was enthralled by how well done the scenes were between Redford and our equine hero Pilgrim.Definately brought me back to the pungent smell of sweet feed and the urge to ride with the wind once again. Now if this movie had just focused only on the relationship between the whisperer and the horse in this maladaption of Evans' tale, I'd give it five bags 'n pay to see it again 'n again! Redford 'n the horse were by far the best! |
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 Gather quickly around da movie screen boys 'n girls as those wild 'n wacky Coen brothers have done it again with The Big Lebowski! Mix together ...
... who'd rather be bowling ... who'd rather be bowling ... who'd rather be bowling ... 'n ya get a comedy/thriller the Coen boys have cooked up that's even better than Raising Arizona! Jeff Bridges is absolute perfection as The Dude. John Goodman will have you howling 'n Steve Buscemi as Bobby does "duh?" with his usual skill. John Turturro doesn't have much screen time, but his hair-netted, stylin' purple self will crack you up. Julianne Moore is fabulous and I definately love her painting style! Marmots in bathtubs will give new meaning to bathing with furry animals! The Coen brothers give you both incredible rich visuals (the dream sequences are worth the admission price alone) AND stylish witty, dialog! Wrapping up this silly 'lil tale with the perfect ribbon, is (Be Still My Heart) Sam Elliott as our beloved story teller 'n who I want in the worst way. One word of caution! Do not take a beverage or snacks into the theatre, as you will be constantly laughing 'n snorting 'n you'll be squirting coke 'n popcorn outta your nose ... |
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Almost gave this offbeat tale a four bag salute, but I have certain criteria for what I'd see on video tape at home or the big screen in the theatre. This one doesn't need the big screen or the $7.00 admission price tag. Bill Pullam played the screwed-up recluse Daryl Zero and I really liked him. Ben Stiller was just o.k. Very smartly written, but at times did drag. 'Course the theatre was hot 'n Da Hunk was fast asleep, snoring on my shoulder ... might of distracted me from getting into the movie at times. I give Zero Effect credit for being original 'n entertaining for the most part, but I'd definately hold on to the bucks to rent it on video someday. |
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Wow ! Besides the expected incredible effects what really won my heart in Titanic was the sweet sweet story that James Cameron wrote for us all to enjoy.... so good that we didn't even need the spectacle of the ship sinking in the background! Leonardo DiCaprio is absolutely mesmerizing 'n his presence stays with you long long after the movie is over. The elder Rose, modeled after one of my favorite potters ... Beatrice Woods, ( who I'm always pleased to bragg about that I actually met her sari swaddled self in da flesh! ) was brought to life with pained delicacy by Gloria Stuart 'n she truely made the story real for all of us. Winslet brought the young Rose to life with exquisite style 'n before much time had passed, I was truely caught up in the young lovers story 'n the Titanic became just the stage upon which the story played out. Cameron has truely given us a sweeping epic like those of years ago and this voyage will long be remembered. This movie is a must see! |
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Good Grief .. the movie mirrors it's title ... As Good As it Gets! Jack was made for this role 'n being a psychiatric nurse, I truely appreciated his exquisite performance as one of "my people". I was a wettin' me panties. Greg Kinnear continues to shine up on the big screen as does Cuba 'n Helen Hunt is finally getting bigger 'n better roles that show off her wonderful talents. I, like many, wish the powers that be would cast more mature women with the mature leading man, but that's for another 2 center rant sometime, 'n I've always loved Helen on Mad About You, I can't complain when all come together so sweetly as this movie did for me. Who wudda thought that we'd all root for nasty Melvin ... what a great piece of writing, casting, directing, 'n acting! Now ... 'bout dat darn doggie Verdell that truely stole the show ... funny ... funny! This movie is a warm fuzzie with an edge ... an absolute must see! Rush off to see it 'n don't step on any cracks ... |
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Jackie Brown is no Pulp Fiction, but Quentin Tarantino writes some of the best dialogue to be found 'n he gives you characters you want to spend alot of time with! It was a real pleasure to see Pam Grier back 'n in top form! It was definately her story 'n she did herself proud. Robert Forster almost steals da show with his understated moments 'n Samuel is just soooo baaad! Hearing the Delphonics was almost worth the other bag, but it did start to drag for me at times, but all 'n all take da Tarantino trip ... he's a master. |
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The two most important messages of life most of us need to hear ... "It's not your fault." ... "There's nothing you can't do." After years of chanting these mantras myself 'n teaching the same to my own clients, I've found another simple enjoyable way to get the message out ... SEE THIS MOVIE! What an absolute delight to watch this story unfold. I'm in awe over the talents of both Matt Damon and Ben Affleck not only for their acting but mostly for the incredible true human script they wrote! Robin Williams is perfection! Minnie Driver and Stellan Skarsgard make the group complete with their talented performances. This is definately one of the best movies of the year and should also be required viewing for all psychotherapist wannabes. Don't miss Good Will Hunting ... You'll laugh, cry, and most of all, you'll celebrate! |
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