Snapshots

Brief comments on film by Amy.
Some old, some new.  Domestic films and foreign too.

I really hate writing negative reviews… Okay, let me modify that a bit. I write negative reviews with relish but then feel really bad about it later. I would much rather tell you about the amazing movie I can’t wait for you to see. Sadly, my film watching this month movie was lacking in “amazing.” Hopefully, I can at least spare you the experience of watching these less than recommendable films.

Nine: I will be honest here and say that I am not a big fan of musicals. If I were, perhaps I would have only moderately disliked this movie instead of hating it. I resorted to fast- forwarding long chunks of it. With so many Hollywood favorites and even a few real actors thrown in, you would think they could have come up with something that would have at least kept my finger off the remote control. Ironically, this film seems to mirror its own plot of a filmmaker who can’t recreate the quality of work that is expected of him. As my kids would say, “whatever.”

End of the Spear: How does one take one of the most powerful modern stories of Christian forgiveness and make it boring? Well start with bad writing, remove any references to Christianity (or Jesus for that matter) and then assume that the audience already knows the story anyway. Actually, I did know the story going in and was still confused. It was as if they started a third of the way into the film. I would say this is just another example of bad “Christian” art, but since they refuse to talk about Jesus throughout the film, I guess this is one that doesn’t warrant that description.

The Last Station: This film was well-directed, well-written, and well-acted. If only the whole premise of the movie wasn’t absolute bull-shine. Supposedly a depiction of the last days of Leo Tolstoy, this movie is one giant kiss-up to a really bad guy. I wanted to see it because of my love for his classic War and Peace but did some research after viewing the film and was sorely disappointed in the filmmakers’ refusal to face Tolstoy’s “issues” head on. I am surprised the movie didn’t end with Tolstoy dancing arm in arm with Alfred Kinsey.

Lost: Okay, here is where I get off the train to Negativity Central and hop on the Mega-fan Express. I don’t care what Jim says—I love this show. I could no longer refuse to watch it when so many people whom I respect kept recommending it. I have completed Season Two and at one point was up to a four-episodes-per-day habit. Since Jim staged his intervention, I have actually decided to read up on seasons 3, 4 and 5 and watch the last season at a more reasonable pace. I know the women are boobs with legs and the men are too good looking, but I love it despite its glamorous warts. The issues discussed (e.g., faith vs. science, the group vs. the individual) are interesting, and I love learning the background of certain characters and how this changes your perspective. And I must find out what is in the jungle!

Honorable and Dishonorable Mentions: I will make this short and sweet: Valentine’s Day—As disappointing as rain at a picnic, with fire ants and soggy sandwiches. When in Rome—Though the supporting cast is a bit over the top for my taste, I love Kristin Bell and Josh Duhamel. Bounty Hunter—I was on vacation; thought it would be entertaining. It was like the above mentioned picnic with some hail and armed bandits thrown in. Bad, bad, bad.