Take 4: A Series of Murders

A little trouble with this update:

1) Couldn't upload images to Blogspot for some reason. Unfortunate, as I tracked down images for each DVD (Edited to add: Okay...got the pics up!)
2) Found it a little tough to make recommendations on single episodes of what, in essence, are series of programs.
3) Fourth of July and housesitting somewhere without broadband made getting this out a little more difficult.

Regardless, this time around we have four DVD's, all mysteries set in England. A little underwhelmed, overall, but I do what I can.

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Agatha Christie's The Pale Horse (1997)

In the Beginning: A priest is found dead outside a theater by a local artist, who then becomes the primary suspect of the police. He sets out to prove his innocence.

The Plot Thickens: A trail of clues and deaths leads to a bookie (who bets against people living past a certain date) and a coven witches (who curse people to die). What is really happening in this sleepy British town? Are people dying of natural causes, witchcraft...or murder?

I Know Them!: Not a damn person. Think this aired on the BBC or was an import to PBS or something.

Favorite Character: Didn't really have one.

Random Trivia: The title The Pale Horse, comes from the Book of Revelations in the Bible.

Great Quotes: Witch: (Hissing) "I...am...the CANDLE!" Policeman: "Right...boys, put the candle in the back of the van."

Curt's Take: Don't Bother - Not only was it hard to understand some of the British accents (this one had no subtitles), but it just wasn't engaging. Don't really have anything to commend this DVD (even the mystery itself was kind of weak). For a while I was thinking it wasn't bad enough to get one of the two lower ratings on my scale, but then I really can't think of any reason I'd recommend anyone even consider seeing this. Unfortunately, I fear the remaining three DVDs aren't going to fare much better.

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Miss Marple Mysteries: The Body in the Library (1984)

In the Beginning: Colonel and Mrs. Bantry wake up to the screams of a maid, who claims she has found a body in their library. Sure enough...yep...a body.

The Plot Thickens: Jane Marple steps in to help her friends the Bantrys. Things get especially hairy when a hotel full of suspects with motive and/or opportunity emerges. Oh...and there's another body, but not in a library.

I Know Them!: Again, not a single person...although the woman playing Miss Marple (Jane Hickson) looks familiar, likely from her repeated exposure in this role on PBS, the BBC, A&E, or wherever else. Again, I think this was a British television import.

Favorite Character: Kind of like Dolly Bantry, Miss Marple's close friend. She's read a lot of detective fiction, and was both shocked and delighted to find herself right in the middle of an honest-to-goodness murder mystery.

Random Trivia: This was Joan Hickson's first portrayal of Miss Marple, one of Agatha Christie's greatest sleuths (the other being, of course, Hercule Poirot). From 1984 through 1992, she would portray the spinster detective 12 times on television.

Great Quotes: Nothing really great...but was amusing at the beginning how many times "body' and "library" were used in the same sentence. "Mary just said there's a body in the library." "What?" "A body in the library..." I see a drinking game...

Curt's Take: "Not a Priority," unless you're a big mystery buff, then I'd upgrade to "Worth Considering." First off, this was long. On the DVD, you could either watch it in straight through, or in three parts (I believe it aired in three parts on television). So, all in all, about 2h 40min. It was kind of neat how, more so at the beginning, the camera was very careful to include pictures of clocks, watches, timepieces, etc, so you, as a viewer, could try to put together a timeline of events for yourself. Although both this and The Pale Horse were based on Agatha Christie books, this one felt more like a classic mystery that you could track along with and try to solve. And like most mysteries, I changed my mind as to the culprit many times throughout...but the one I landed on at the end wasn't correct.

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Midsomer Murders: The Killings at Badger's Drift (1997)

In the Beginning: An elderly woman goes into the woods to photograph flowers...and ends up stumbling upon something she shouldn't have seen. A couple hours later, she is found dead at home with a broken neck.

The Plot Thickens: Inspector Barnaby and Sergeant Troy enter the small village of Badger's Drift to investigate the death of the elderly woman, and uncover a circle of suspects that are also linked by a death in the past.

I Know Them!: Once again, a BBC series. A couple faces looked familiar, but nobody I specficially know from anything. However, got the feeling that if I watch the other episodes of this series, I'd start seeing some familiar faces.

Favorite Character: Hmm. Some pretty interesting characters in this group. Kind of liked Sergeant Troy, though...always on Barnaby's last nerve, and not really conscious of what he says half the time. Get the impression he's kind of new to the whole investigation thing...and has no filter between his brain and his mouth.

Random Trivia: The solo instrument that produces the melody in the title music is a theremin. It was invented by Russian scientist, Professor Leon Theremin, and was first demonstrated in 1920. It pre-dates the modern synthesizer by about fifty years but its uniqueness stems from the fact that it is played without actually being touched. Its electronic circuits are controlled by two antennas, left and right of the instrument, towards which the player moves his or her hands. The closer the right hand to one antenna, the higher the pitch. Similarly the proximity of the left hand to the other antenna controls the volume. The theremin has a range well in excess of eight octaves, going right down to zero, and is capable of all kinds of strange effects. These sounds have been put to use in science fiction and other films including Hitchcock's Spellbound (1945). This unique instrument has also been used on The Beach Boys' song 'Good Vibrations'.

Great Quotes: Barnaby (after Troy has made a particularly homophobic remark - "Troy, you are about as politically correct as a Nuremberg rally."

Curt's Take: "Worth Considering," for this episode...if you like mysteries. Maybe even if you don't. Think I'm going to check out the others in the series. This one kind of reminded me of a British Desperate Housewives, with some Murder, She Wrote thrown in. Another classic case of "I think it's this person...no, wait...it's this person," as I tried to guess the culprit. However, it was much more manageable to handle the twists and turns in this one than in The Body in the Library.

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Inspector Lynley: A Great Deliverance (2001)

In the Beginning: In the English (yes, another British show) countryside, a priest enters a farmhouse, looking for its owners. There, he finds two bodies and a catatonic chubby girl with an axe.

The Plot Thickens: Inspector Tom Lynley (the eighth Earl of Asherton, Oxford-educated, etc) and Sergeant Barbara Havers (rough-around-the-edges with little in the way of social skills) are brought into Yorkshire to handle the case. Oh, and Lynley used to work there, but left after filing charges of corruption against several members of the police force, who later lost their jobs. So, yeah, he's not a very welcome sight there.

I Know Them!: Apparently the guy playing Inspector Lynley (Nathaniel Parker) has been in some other movies I've seen, but don't recognize him from anything. Again, another British-produced television show (and there are apparently about 16 more Lynley mysteries that have been produced)

Favorite Character: Whlie the above mysteries did some interesting development of suspects as characters, and their background and such, this one was the first that really went in detail into who the detectives were. Was really intrigued by Sergeant Havers (played by Sharon Small). Very rough around the edges, and paired with Lynley because she was causing trouble on the police force and her superiors figured Lynley was the most likely person to push her buttons and send her over the edge. Also, she is caring for her two invalid parents at home, is barely making ends meet, and is constantly under the threat of Social Services coming in and taking her parents away. Not used to people being nice to her, it would be interesting to see if she softens up a bit as the series progresses.

Random Trivia: This show (in two parts) aired on the PBS series Mystery! Although the series typically only highlights adaptations of British novels, an exception was made for A Great Deliverance (by Elizabeth George) because the setting and characters were on par with what one would typically find in a novel by Agatha Christie or Dorothy L. Sayers.

Great Quotes: "Let's see what forensics turns up." I only pulled this one out because it really kind of shows how mysteries have evolved with the times. You'd never catch Sherlock Holmes, Sam Spade, or Miss Marple saying that.

Curt's Take: "Not a Priority" for this episode...but it did pique my interest in the primary characters of Lynley and Havers to see how they develop. It didn't have the cast of suspects that Midsomer Murders above did, and at times drifted far enough away from the plot to lose my interest, but for people who like mysteries, it may open the door to a series that you actually enjoy, so I'm not going to say "Don't Bother," right off hand (which I would have, if this was a stand-alone story and not part of a larger effort). If you care more about the development of the sleuths than than the mystery...this may be a "Worth Considering."

No Longer By the Numbers

Okay...so here's where I was having trouble. While I know what I think of each DVD I watch, and whether I'd recommend it or not, assigning a numerical rating to it hasn't always been easy. Plus, we then get into sticky situations where The Maltese Falcon ends up with a lower rating than White Chicks.

To remedy this, I'm introducing a new, more qualitative rating system. Each movie will given one of the following ratings, from best to worst:

• Buy, Watch, Repeat: The cream of the crop. Reserved for movies I not only really liked, but I liked so much I plan on buying the DVD and watching them over and over. And I own very few movies. Examples: The Goonies; Big Trouble in Little China; Empire Records
  
• Must See: Still very good, but falls short of being something I feel I MUST own. This is something I'd very much recommend you put on your "to rent" list. Pretty self-explanatory. Examples: El Mariachi; Sunset Boulevard
  
• Worth Considering: Sometimes you go to the video store, and your "Must See" movie is out. Or you're flipping channels and just catch the beginning of some movie. That's what this rating is for...check these movies or shows out if the situation presents itself. Examples: 2 Fast 2 Furious; Desperado
  
• Not a Priority: If you find yourself checking these movies out, you should really ask yourself if there isn't something better you could be doing with your time. I'm not saying that watching these is a bad idea...just save them for a last resort. If you're on an airplane, and one of these comes on...read the book you brought instead. Examples: The Maltese Falcon; Bulletproof Monk
  
• Don't Bother: Skip it. Say no. Unless you're a glutton for punishment, avoid at all costs. Examples: From Justin to Kelly: A Tale of Two American Idols; Bats
  
• Run in Fear: Here we have the movies that are so frighteningly bad, that I couldn't even stand to finish watching them. Not only should you not bother to see them, you should evangelize this fact to all those you love and care about. Examples: Saturday the 14th Strikes Back; Supernova
  

Review Preview

The next issue of Take 4 delves into a series of mysteries, from a couple Agatha Christie classics, to some made-for-television British whodunnits. While you won't see Professor Plum or Miss Scarlet in any of these, you can expect the usual rogue's gallery of shifty butlers, long-lost cousins, and mysterious strangers.

Take 4: Classics by Request

A couple new things have been happening at Take 4. First of all, as I was getting tired of just doing random movie reviews, I've decided that each entry should have a theme. This edition of Take 4 kicks off this new direction.

Since I began this venture, I have received several recommendations of movies from folks, most of which I have never seen, but have definitely heard of. Below you will find the first official Reader Request Review, which contains my take on four classic films.

Oh, and nifty new graphics.

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Sunset Boulevard (1950)

Recommended By: James Noonan, co-worker at Rapp Collins, and producer of the independent film Working Stiff (www.workingstiff.org)

In the Beginning: Joe Gillis, a struggling screenwriter living in Hollywood, finds himself dealing with collections agents who want to repossess his car and just can't produce any scripts that the studios are interested in filming.

The Plot Thickens: Fate connects Gillis with the reclusive Norma Desmond, a former silent film star, who is working on a screenplay of her own. She takes him under her wing and employs his help in editing the screenplay, but becomes a little possesive in the process.

I Know Them!: William Holden (as Joe Gillis), who was also in Network; Gloria Swanson and Cecil B. DeMille, two names I connected with older films, but don't know if I could have put faces to the names (now I can)

Favorite Character: Norma Desmond - Swanson did a bang-up job as the aging silent film star, creating simultaneous feelings of pity and loathing. She does an excellent job of slowly losing grip with reality and sinking into her own little movie world.

Random Trivia: In 1998, the American Film Institute selected this as the 12th greatest film of the 100 Greatest American Movies of All Time.

Great Quotes: Joe: "You're Norma Desmond. You used to be in silent pictures. You used to be big." Norma: "I AM big. It's the pictures that got small."

Curt's Take: 8.5 out of 10 - Will likely be some outrage that this didn't get higher, but note that, so far, this is the highest rating I've given a film (with El Mariachi getting an "8"). Sure there are other films I've seen that I would rate higher than this (which aren't in my Netflix list), but this does get boosted because of the AFI rating mentioned above, as well as the fact that, well, it's a classic. While I wouldn't call this an "entertaining" film, I would say it is an "engaging" film. I kind of wish I wasn't familiar with the musical that was based on this, as I pretty knew the key plot points going in...but still...good. And slightly creepy.

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The Maltese Falcon (1941)

Recommended By: Bradford "Doctor" Love, one of my former co-students back at MSU, and biggest Red Sox fan I know (and the second biggest Gators fan)

In the Beginning: Detective Sam Spade and his partner are hired by a woman looking for her missing sister. Their only lead is a meeting that their new employer has set up for later that evening with the man the sister supposedly ran off with.

The Plot Thickens: Multiple murders, mysterious personalities with their own individual agendas, and a priceless statuette of a falcoln all come crawling out of the woodwork, leaving Spade with no idea who he can trust.

I Know Them! Humphrey Bogart (as Sam Spade) is an obvious one, but I also knew of Peter Lorre, who plays the weasely little Joel Cairo (you'd know him if you saw him). Knew a couple other names, too, although wouldn't have been able to attach them to any faces: Mary Astor, Sydney Greenstreet.

Favorite Character: Kasper Gutman, played by Sydney Greenstreet. While Sam Spade goes through the entire movie as if he wasn't accountable to anybody but himself (including local law enforcement), it was amusing to watch Gutman just be...well...amused by how Spade acted. Kept referring to him as an interesting character...as if he was some omnipotent narrator. Only loses his cool one or two times, but quickly recovers it.

Random Trivia: Word-for-word and scene-for-scene, the movie is virtually identical to Dashiell Hammett's novel, on which it was based.

Great Quotes: Detective: " Heavy. What is it?" Spade: "The stuff that dreams are made of."

Curt's Take: 5.5 out of 10 - Unlike Sunset above, this doesn't necessarily stand the test of time. The acting style is largely dated and does stick out quite a bit. Plus, not only did it not have the "entertaining" factor, it lacked the "engaging" factor as well. While it may be an important part of the film history, it just wasn't all the interesting. I'm not saying it's not landmark and important...just not what I'm looking for in a movie (this, coming from the guy who still has never seen Forrest Gump). Still, had to rate it higher than Bulletproof Monk.

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All About Eve (1950)

Recommended By: Honey Parker, former freelance copywriter where I work, improv comedy virtuoso, and reality television viewing compatriot

In the Beginning: Eve Harrington's dream of meeting her theater idol, Margo Channing, is finally realized when Channing's best friend introduces them backstage after one of her performances.

The Plot Thickens: Eve becomes Margo's personal assistant, but (as is so often the case in films), as she insinuates herself deeper into Margo's life, things get a bit out of hand.

I Know Them!: Bette Davis, who played Margo Channing, as well as a small role for Marilyn Monroe

Favorite Character: Here's the kicker...this is probably the first film I've reviewed where I couldn't pick just one. For starters, there's Margo Channing...excellent role for Bette Davis, and a character you come to like quickly, who has little or no filter between her mouth and her brain. Also really liked Channing's best friend Karen, played by Celeste Holm...as the only person in the movie outside the theater world, she's easily the one you relate to the most. And finally, Addison DeWitt, the theater critic, played by George Sanders...at first his manner of speaking in the opening narration took me aback a little (very dramatic), but came to realize he pretty much just speaks as he writes in his columns, with a lot of formality and metaphor. Great characters.

Random Trivia: In real life, Bette Davis had just turned 42 as she undertook the role of Margo Channing, and Anne Baxter (who played the title role of Eve), still an up-and-comer, not only vowed audiences with her performance, but (ironically, given the plot of the film) successfully pressured the powers that be to get her nominated for an Oscar in the Best Actress category rather than Best Supporting Actress. This is thought to have split the vote between herself and Davis. The winner for the 1950 Best Actress ended up being Judy Holliday for her role in Born Yesterday, so Baxter's actions in effect blocked Davis' chances for the win.

Great Quotes: Margo: "Fasten your seatbelts, it's going to be a bumpy night!"; Margo: " Bill's thirty-two. He looks thirty-two. He looked it five years ago, he'll look it twenty years from now. I hate men."

Curt's Take: 9 out of 10 - Was very surprised by this, but not knowing anything about it going in, I guess that's not unusual. Easily falls into the "must watch" realm. Was trying to think if this rated on par with or above Sunset Boulevard, and what put it ahead were the mass of interesting characters. Possession of the role of power shifted so often that the 140 minutes largely flew by. The Single White Female aspect of the film became very apparent early on, but it worked well. I'm also not usually a fan of "flashback" movies (almost the entire movie is a flashback from an awards ceremony for Eve), but that didn't detract from things in the slightest.

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White Chicks (2004)

Recommended By: Matt Owen, Michigan State buddy, recent political science grad, and East Lansing bar star

In the Beginning: Shawn and Marlon Wayans play FBI agents who volunteer to transport two spoiled rich girls (who are in danger of being kidnapped) to a weekend at the Hamptons

The Plot Thickens: The girls get injured on the way to the Hamptons, so, with the help of a LOT of make-up, the Wayans pose as the brats in order to 1) keep their director from finding out about the accident and 2) to investigate the kidnapping threat.

I Know Them!: Besides Shawn and Marlon Wayans, recognized John Heard (the father from Home Alone) who plays the father of the arch-enemies of the rich girls

Favorite Character: Latrell Spencer, played by Terry Crews...the very large and intimidating black man who takes a romantic interest in Marlon Wayans. Very well-played.

Random Trivia: The original title was the "The Miltons"

Great Quotes: Latrell: "Once you go black, you gonna need a wheelchair"

Curt's Take: 6 out of 10 - Was hesitant coming into this, but Matt said it was hilarious. Well, will go so far as to say I was amused. There were some laugh-out-loud parts every so often...and it was just damn funny to watch the White Chicks bust a move during an impromptu Hamptons dance-off between warring factions of rich girls. Still, some better movies out there I'd recommend before this one (sorry, Matt!). And for those of you keeping track at home, yes, I rated this higher than The Maltese Falcon. What can I say...it was more entertaining and engaging.

Review Preview

Up to this point, the movies I've been reviewing have been ones that I've added to my Netflix list myself. Next time, however, I put some of you in the driver's seat. In the next set of reviews, I take a look at four films that were suggested to me by four of Take 4's loyal readers. Are you one of the lucky quartet? Stay tuned...

Take 4: BBC Invasion

Hey, folks. Got a little something different going on in this edition of Take 4. One of the things I like most about Netflix is that it allows me to catch up on a lot television series I've missed (e.g. The Sopranos, 24) or that aren't shown frequently here in the U.S. (e.g. Coupling, The Office). So, below, is the first review of a set of television DVDs. The series was three discs, so in essence we've only got two reviews.

Sorry for the delay in this one...as I mentioned in the blog, was sitting here, waiting for the last disc to come in. Just arrived on Saturday, so getting the review out today. Enjoy!

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Lara Croft, Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life (2003)

In 25 Words or Less: The video game comes to life (again) as Lara Croft races to find Pandora's Box before bad guys can unleash its contents on the world.

For People Who Like...: The Indiana Jones trilogy. Same sort of archaeological bent, but a little on the lighter side across all elements (story, acting, etc). Oh, yeah...and if you liked the first Tomb Raider.

I Know Them!: Angelina Jolie, as Lara Croft. She's really the only person I knew coming into this film. She kicks ass...much as she did in Mr. & Mrs. Smith. She doesn't have much of a sense of humor in this, though. Didn't really have any reason to root for her other than her being a hottie.

Things to Look Out For: 1920's Pulp Adventure Cliches (although it's set in present day); An Evil Looking Pandora's Box; Lots of Gunplay and Hand-to-Hand Combat

Curt's Favorite Character: The film wasn't much on characterization, I'm afraid. Or, at least there were no characters that stuck out as favorites.

Final Thoughts: Going after Pandora's Box was a nifty concept...much as the Ark of the Covenant and the Holy Grail featured prominently in the first and third Indiana Jones movies. Anyone know what was pursued in the second movie? No cheating and looking up online now. Anyway, there was a series of Indiana Jones novels that were pretty quick reads, and Noah's Ark was one of the things being tracked down. I kind of like the whole "searching for things of legendary importance" idea.

Overall Recommendation: 6.5 out of 10 - Again, with an "8" representing my "must see this" threshhold, I have to let this fall shy of the mark. While entertaining, I didn't come out of this going "wow." It was good and entertaining, but not great.

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MI-5: Season One (2002)

In 25 Words or Less: British spy television series that follows the lives of "spooks" (agents) who fight against terrorism and espionage in the United Kingdom.

For People Who Like...: The FOX television series 24. While it doesn't have the "real-time" element, you do have the counter-terrorism aspect. I guess it had some elements of Alias in it as well.

I Know Them!: Didn't know any of the main characters, but Anthony Head (Giles from the Buffy TV series) played a guest role and Hugh Laurie (of the House, M.D. TV series and Flight of the Phoenix) has a recurring role.

Things to Look Out For: Subtitles (They Make Understanding the Story a Lot Easier); Mix of Camera Footage and Surveillane Footage

Curt's Favorite Character: Tessa Phillips, played by Jenny Agutter - She's got so much going on and, without giving too much away, seems to have a lot more power than she lets on

Final Thoughts: The first season contains six episodes, two per disc (in addition to bonus features). The first episode didn't really do it for me, but the second episode hit it out of the park...you knew after watching it that the makers of the show weren't going to pull any punches. Like most great shows (in my mind) the series had elements that were specific to each show, but then also had plotlines that spanned episodes. From Tom trying to decide whether or not to tell his girlfriend and her daughter that he's a spy to Danny's problem with credit card debt, you begin to care about what's going on with the characters in and out of their line of work.

Overall Recommendation: 7.5 out of 10 - Can see how this wouldn't be for everyone, but I definitely plan on renting the other seasons sometime down the road. Falls shy of the "must watch" mark, only because the elements that carry over from one episode to the next aren't edge-of-your seat, nail-biting cliffhangers, but instead lean more toward the social lives of the characters.

Two New Links

Was cruising around the 'net, and found two links that y'all might like:

Reel Movie Guys: Another online movie review site that focuses on what TBS would likely call "Movies for Guys Who Like Movies." While I tend to just do a random smattering of things, I'm guessing you wouldn't catch them admitting to watching/reviewing "From Justin to Kelly."

HULK'S DIARY THAT IS ON THE INTERNET: Yes, it's the 21st Century, and even the Incredible Hulk has his own blog. While you may have him stereotyped as loving to SMASH things, a quick read will show he is much deeper than that. Never would have guessed at his love for cute kitties, Twinkies, Red Bull and funny-looking monkeys.

See the sidebar for links!

Frustrationosity!

Egads! Two days without any DVDs arriving in the mail! I'm one disc away from completing the next review and am feeling the withdrawal.

Patience, all...patience. Hoping for an update late Friday or early Saturday, assuming the discs arrive in the mail tomorrow.

AltMedia Review - In Theaters: Mr. & Mrs. Smith

Decided that, to fill the downtime between the normal DVD reviews, I'd go ahead and review other media that I consume: movies, books, CDs, video games, etc. These won't follow the normal format of the other reviews...just some topline thoughts. Having said that...

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Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005)

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie star as the title characters, a married couple, each a professional hitman/woman, who doesn't know the other's line of work. Of course, we meet them on the day that things go terribly wrong.

Overall, really enjoyed this...would even consider seeing it again, I think. Good action scenes and the acting was enoyable to watch. It was a little slow/frustrating in the middle (can't you two just TALK without trying to kill each other?), but still was entertained.

I know many people (mostly females that I work with) who are boycotting this movie because of how Bradgelina (the new Bennifer) screwed over Jennifer Aniston. Bah. Just see the damn movie, people.

Review Preview

Things change up a little in the next round, as Take 4 visits the small screen (television that is), reviewing the three-disc set of a British television series. Throw into this Angelina Jolie as Lara Croft, and we've got a new take on Take 4!

Take 4: Another Johnny Depp Movie

Sorry for the delay, all. Been a busy couple weeks, and while I got through the first three movie fast, didn't get around to the last one for a while. Enjoy!

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What Lies Beneath (2000)

In 25 Words or Less: Spooky occurrences surround a Vermont housewife as she adapts to a daughter who just left for college, a workaholic husband, and strange neighbors.

For People Who Like...: Somewhat tense dramas. While there are "ghost story" elements, the movie is more of a thriller/drama then a truly scary movie. Kind of like a watered down Sixth Sense.

I Know Them!: Michelle Pfeiffer and Harrison Ford head up the cast...guess they didn't have a lot of scripts on their plate at the time

Things to Look Out For: Downright Creepy Bathroom Seance; Interesting Camera Usage (Binocular Cam, Rear-View Mirror Cam, Etc.)

Curt's Favorite Character: The dog, Cooper. He did a great job. Especially with the bathtub scene at the end.

Miscellaneous Notes: Hard to review a movie like this without giving too much away. I remember seeing this in the theaters and really liking it...enough, I guess to add it to my Netflix list sometime last year. Strangely, though, I don't have a lot to say about it.

Overall Recommendation: 6.5 out of 10 - Upon reflection, I really only liked this for the scary moments...and while there aren't a lot of them, the ones that it does have are pretty good. The rest of the movie is pretty predictable, though. So if you're looking for a passable thriller with a few chilling scenes throw in, check this out.

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Network (1976)

In 25 Words or Less: To help boost ratings, failing TV network brings on crazy anchorman they had formerly fired. The impact is more than they bargained for.

For People Who Like...: Excellently written (and performed) dialogue/monologue; Academy Award winning films: 4 awards (including Original Screenplay, Actor and Actress) and 6 nominations (including Best Picture and Director); Movies like Broadcast News or Fahrenheit 911.

I Know Them!: Faye Dunaway (as the progamming planner for UBS who has a hard time separating reality from television and for whom ratings are the ultimate arbiter of all things); Robert Duvall (as the head of the corporation who bought UBS)

Things to Look Out For: "I'm mad as hell, and I'm not going to take this anymore!"; Some Reality TV Concepts That Can't Be Too Far Down the Road

Curt's Favorite Character: Max Schumaker, played by William Holden, as the best friend of Peter Finch's character, Howard Beal (the above-mentioned "crazy anchorman"). A genuinely good person that you root for through the entire movie, and it seems like the only person who is supporting his friend Beal and looking out for his best interests a majority of the time.

Miscellaneous Notes: As mentioned above, some genuinely good writing. Anyone looking to find a dramatic monologue for an audition might want to check out the screenplay for some good ones. Also, there's an Easter Egg on the DVD that talks about how Nielsen Ratings work.

Overall Recommendation: 8 out of 10 - I have to admit, there's a lot of pressure pushing up this score, considering how much critical acclaim it has received. I kind of view the "8" threshhold as crossing into the "gotta see at least once" region of movie-watching, and this does fit that category, especially in an age of programming directors pushing the envelope and consolidation of ownership in the media. Very timely, even close to 30 years after it was released.

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Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)

In 25 Words or Less: Pirates sail the Caribbean looking for the means to lift their curse, wreaking havoc, pillaging and plundering along the way.

For People Who Like...: Swashbuckling adventure, along the lines of The Three Muskeeters

I Know Them!: Actually, I know a LOT of them...Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Geoffrey Rush, Jonathan Price. Seems they even raided the casts of my favorite BBC comedies, with Steve (from Coupling) and Gareth (from The Office) both having pretty major parts.

Things to Look Out For: If you've ridden the ride at Disneyland or Disneyworld, plenty of scenes from the ride appear in the movie...particularly the famous "Three Imprisoned Pirates Trying to Lure Dog Who Has Keys" scene

Curt's Favorite Character: Would have to be Johnny Depp, as Capt. Jack Sparrow...by far the most colorful character, and Depp always puts his all into whatever character is served up to him. No exception here.

Miscellaneous Notes: Not too long after this hit theaters, we were hit also hit with Eddie Murphy's The Haunted Mansion. Makes me wonder if they are planning on turning more rides into movies. While I could see potential in a Space Mountain movie, or perhaps even a Matterhorn or Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, let's just hope they stay away from It's a Small World.

Overall Recommendation: 8 out of 10 - Although a Disney movie, plenty of action to keep thing moving along, and the fight scenes are decent. I was surprised at the amount of violence for this being Disney, but it wasn't gratuitious or anything. Makes me want to catch the ride again.

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Knockaround Guys (2002)

In 25 Words or Less: Son of a mafia under-boss and his tough guy friends fly to a small Montana town to retrieve a misplace satchel of money.

For People Who Like...: Gangland movies...maybe? Or movies where cultures collide (Brooklyn gangsters meet small-town life).

I Know Them!: Vin Diesel, Seth Green, John Malkovich, Dennis Hopper

Things to Look Out For: Drama, When You're Expecting Comedy (My Mistake); Confusing Mexican Stand-Off

Curt's Favorite Character: There was a lot of potential in Louise, the Airline Lost-and-Found Clerk, had this been a comedy. Barring that, Vin Diesel was okay.

Miscellaneous Notes: As I hinted at above, I was expecting this to be more comedic than dramatic. And it was a little overdramatic, at that. That didn't work so well for me. Also, although I don't mention him above, the lead actor was Barry Popper. While I'd heard the name before, and had seen the actor in some things, I had never put the two together until now. Also...the soundtrack (at least during the closing credits) was pretty decent.

Overall Recommendation: 5.5 out of 10 - Enjoyed it slightly less than Dreamcatcher. It was okay to see once, but definitely could pass on it as well. Was slow for me at the beginning, picked up a little when the problems began for our ragtag gang of four, and then just kind of went south.

3 Fast 3 Furious

From my friend Matt:

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif., June 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Acclaimed young filmmaker Justin Lin -- who made a splash with the 2002 independent feature and Sundance hit "Better Luck Tomorrow" -- has been signed to direct the latest installment in the motion picture series built on speed: "The Fast and the Furious 3" (tentative title). The Universal Pictures release will be produced by Neal H. Moritz, who served in the same capacity on both global blockbuster hits "The Fast and theFurious" and "2 Fast 2 Furious." "The Fast and the Furious 3" is written by Chris Morgan ("Cellular"), who places the third entry in Tokyo: in this adrenalized new story, set in the sexy, underground world of Japanese drift racing, the newest and fastest customized rides go head-to-head on some of the most perilous courses ever seen. Plans call for the film to begin production in the Fall of 2005.

The original film and its follow-up reached box office heights in theaters around the globe, with "The Fast and the Furious" earning $207,409,603 in cumulative worldwide box office and "2 Fast 2 Furious"out scoring the original, taking in $236,222,077 worldwide. Together,both DVD titles have sold more than 20 million units.

Take 4: Mexican Standoff

Although the purpose of Take 4 is technically to review four DVDs at a time, this go around, we end up having five films, as two of the Mexican Gunslinger trilogy (El Mariachi and Desperado) were on the same DVD. You know, the trilogy probably has a snappier name than that, but I'm sticking to it...

And now...on with Take 4!

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From Justin to Kelly: A Tale of Two American Idols (2003)

In 25 Words or Less...: Kelly and Justin meet during Spring Break and try to make romance work, but Kelly's conniving friend gets in the way. Much singing ensues.

Things to Look Out For: Having to Choose Between the "Extended Version" and the "Theatrical Version"; Least Appealing Bathroom Encounter Ever (I was wrong about it being in "Dreamcatcher"); Worst "Summer Nights" Rip-Off from "Grease" Ever; Least Surprising "She Goes All Skanky to Get the Party Guy,,,Wait They Did that in 'Grease,' Too" Scene; And Last But Not Least...Impromptu Hovercraft Showdown With Edge-Of-Your-Seat Beanbag-Tossing Action!!!


Thoughts: First off, let me explain why...okay, seriously, no amount of explaining can rationalize why this is on my list. I could have just skipped it and not reported that I watched. But that wouldn't be fair to you, the reading public. So how did it end up there? Remember, these movies I'm watching now were added to my list over a year ago. I think I was just curious HOW the American Idol promotional machine managed to crank out a movie and wondered what it looked like. A big part of it was that I am a huge reality television fan. I know, that's no excuse...and as it turns out, I'd come to regret the decision.

The movie takes place in Miami, providing an interesting bit of continuity for me, as the last film I reviewed ("2 Fast 2 Furious") also took place there (the same night club, Pearl, is even used in both movies). The opening scene took place entirely on a beach, though, dashing any hopes I had of Paul Walker screeching in on a souped-up import and running down the entire cast. As the opening scene continued, I thought it just featured a concert taking place at the beach until it hit me...the CAST was singing. They were full-out lip-synching...and it was very jarring to watch. This continued for some time (lip-synching, choreographed dancing, etc) and then...it was over. Rather abruptly. I mean, the entire group of beachgoers reached the end of their singing and were then just kind of standing around awkwardly, as if the demons who made them burst out in song and dance had just suddenly been exorcised. I really felt quite embarrassed for them and didn't know where to look. And the rest of the film was pretty much the same...pretty poor acting, music starts to play with vocals, suddenly you realize the cast is singing/mouthing the words, awkward post-lip-synch moment, more mediocre acting.

Memorable Lines: "I'm from Texas, I've seen bigger." - Kelly, referring to Justin's hair, of all things...no, seriously, she is...; "Why don't you back off, Sideshow Bob." - said to Justin, expressing what we are all really wanting to say

Overall Rating: 3 out of 10 - I will say this...the sheer cheesiness of it did hold my interest. I mean, they REALLY blindside you with the singing and other hokey plot devices. Like a train wreck, I did keep watching to see what would be tossed haphazardly on the screen next.

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El Mariachi (1992)

In 25 Words or Less...: Mariachi guitarist is mistaken for an assassin who carries his weapons in a guitar case, leading to much trouble for everyone invovled, especially the mariachi.

Things to Look Out For: A Heck of a Movie for a $7,000 Budget; Gunshot Wounds Created via Exploding Condoms; A Brief "WTF?" Moment at the End Which Is Best Left Ignored


Thoughts: Originally saw this movie in undergrad thanks to my friend Tom K, the Master of All Things Cinema (you out there, Tom?). Had added it to my list, because I wanted to see the other two movies in the trilogy, but it had been a while since I'd seen this first installment. The film quality isn't the best, and it is in Spanish...but you quickly become used to how it looks and to reading the subtitles (although you can watch it dubbed, if you have the DVD...I just preferred the subtitles). It goes at a good pace, and has slower moments when slower moments are needed. It is a bit bloody/violent...but the director does a good job of peppering the film with humor that easily crosses cultural boundaries.

Memorable Lines: "What happened to the days when guitarists were gods?"

Overall Rating: 8.5 out of 10 - Definitely put this on your "to rent" list, especially if you have seen the other two movies in the trilogy...and didn't know there was a first movie. I'd say even if you didn't care for the two movies that followed, this one is unique enough to give a chance...and you're only out 80 minutes of your time if you didn't like it.

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Desperado (1995)

In 25 Words or Less...: Now the mariachi IS an assassin. Another Mexican town, another beauty, another drug lord. But much more weaponry and a higher body count.


Things to Look Out For: Salma Hayek; Much Bigger Budget...Much More Blood; Salma Hayek; Some Nifty Gunfight Choreography; Did I Mention Salma Hayek?

Thoughts: Again, pacing dragged this movie down for me, but it was still mostly enjoyable. The front half was pretty steady in story progression and action, but the latter half dragged for me. Also, you can relate to the characters a lot less than in the El Mariachi. In the first movie, the hero is an everyday sort of guy...but he's transformed in this film to a guitar-case toting death machine. He seems to have slipped a little on the sanity scale, too. You still root for him, but throughout the movie I couldn't help but wonder why he's doing this? Didn't he get his revenge in the last film, for the most part? The acting was a bit overdone in this movie, while in El Mariachi it was pretty cut and dried. While a lot recognizable names were in this one...still preferred the simplicity of the original.


Memorable Lines: Priest - "Do you want confession?" El Mariachi - "Maybe later father, because where I'm going...I'd just have to come right back."


Overall Rating: 6.5 out of 10 - Rent as perhaps a themed movie night, or if you want to give Once Upon a Time in Mexico a shot (no pun intended). Or perhaps you saw the first movie, and didn't realize there was a trilogy. Regardless, had some entertaining moments, was overall enjoyable, but there are better things out there to rent. And yes, for those keeping score, I rated 2 Fast 2 Furious higher than this.


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Once Upon a Time in Mexico (2003)


In 25 Words or Less...: Guitarist gunslinger becomes embroiled in a conspiracy to overthrow the Mexican president, where all the players have their own varying agendas.

Things to Look Out For: Callbacks to the First Movie in the Trilogy (e.g. Zipline/Bus Sequence); Less Dramatic Acting, More Dramatic Storyline
Thoughts: I liked this one a lot more than Desperado, but am reluctant to rate it as well as El Mariachi, which started off this Robert Rodriguez trilogy. Also reluctant to rate it so well as one friend of mine, in finding out this was on my viewing list told me to not even bother, it was so bad. So, take my opinion for what it's worth...I got caught up in it. I think what did it for me was the multi-faceted storyline. Here you have many plots going on at once...many protagonists, who don't all interact. Well, not directly at least. That created for a rather intricately-woven web of story, motive and action. Not only did you have Antonio Banderas, reprising his role as El Mariachi, but you also had Johnny Depp, playing a CIA agent who played by his own rules (and added an element of humor to the story that Desperado lacked). Throw into the mix a retired FBI agent wanting revenge for a slain comrade and you have three guys with very different approaches and reasons for getting done what they want to get done.

Memorable Lines: "Are you a MexiCAN or a MexiCAN'T?" - Sands (Depp)

Overall Rating: 8 out of 10 - If you've seen the first two, definitely rent this and finish off the trilogy. If you like multiple storylines, such as in Pulp Fiction and Gosford Park (yes, I'm putting those two hand-in-hand...hush, it's my review, not yours), then definitely rent this. If you don't care for some slightly fantastical liberty taken with storyline and lots of gunplay, I'd pass on this. Overall, though, definitely a renter in my book.

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Needful Things (1993)

In 25 Words or Less...: Creepy antique dealer opens shop in Castle Rock, Maine, giving the residents things they most desire...but for a small price.

Things to Look Out For: Max Von Sydow's Overall Creepy Demeanor and His Pressing Need For Dental Work and a Manicure

Thoughts: After Dreamcatcher last issue, wasn't sure what to expect from another Stephen King adaptation, but this was pretty engaging/entertaining. The best part by far is Max von Sydow as the creepy (I use that word a lot, but that's what he is) Leland Gaunt, antique dealer and owner of the "Needful Things" store. This was more a study into human nature than a horror story. Not much supernatural goes on...but instead he sets up the entire town as "a chain of fuses" that set each other off in a chain reaction of trouble.

Memorable Lines: Von Sydow's many double-entendre lines, making you wonder as to his true nature: "If it's to hot in here, Mr. Jewett, just say the word. I'm afraid I have a tendency to turn up the heat."

Overall Rating: 7.5 out of 10 - I'd recommend giving this little gem a spin...but it's not really that creepy. Would have given it an 8 if it's ending wasn't so anti-climactic

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That concludes this issue of Take 4. It's taken us from south of the border to the shores of Maine. And we've seen that Curt will watch just about anything...although won't necessarily LIKE it.