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Title: I've actually seen these movies! Post by: Mofo Rising on April 19, 2001, 01:22:40 AM ENEMY AT THE GATES - If you've got a little money to spare, go check out a matinee of this movie. It's about a WWII Russian war hero. More specifically a successful sniper. The beginning is like a more hopeless version of SAVING PRIVATE RYAN. The rest of the movie deals with this specific sniper being made a propaganda hero to the Russian army. Him being so famous and uplifting, the Nazis send out their top sniper (Ed Harris) to take him out. It goes on for too long, and the editing is kind of choppy, but the sniper scenes are actually fairly tense and involving. There are a few odd moments where the incongruity of WWII Russians speaking perfect English, but you should be able to overlook them. I recommend it, but only to see in the theatres.
SPACE COWBOYS - I was very pleasantly surprised by this movie. This movie actually follows through. Too many movies crap out at the end, but I really enjoyed this. It of course deals with a bunch of old farts finally going into space. The beginning plays out like a better version of ARMAGEDDON. It's all entertaining until they actually lift off into space. I think Clint Eastwood actually captured just how bizarre going into space actually is. This is the boundary of human exploration, and it captures that, at least for a while. It falls back into thriller territory, but I was totally into it. The end is overblown, but if you're following the movie and can buy it, it delivers. You may differ in opinion, but it was a hell of an entertaining movie. ZOMBIE - Another pleasant surprise. I watched this because I figured it was my duty. It surpassed my expectations. It wasn't anything really special, but it had that definite "horror movie" feel to it. The gore was actually unpleasant to watch and that added to the feel of the movie. The whole thing had that slow inexorable quality to it that is a hallmark of zombie movies. The ending, while not unexpected, added to the horror of the movie. Also, I was impressed with the zombie-shark scene. It was pretty silly in the general sense, but technically, very impressive. RETURN TO OZ - A visit to a childhood favorite. It doesn't really hold up as much as others, but it was entertaining. The movie stars a 9-year old Fairuza Balk as Dorothy. (Actually her first real movie.) There are considerably darker undertones to this movie than the original WIZARD OF OZ. (For example, an insane asylum would never be brought up in the original.) On the whole this movie is still fairly whimsical. I really liked the character designs, much more toy-like than the original movie. If you liked this movie as a kid, it's worth a revisit, but otherwise, probably not. (Of course, the original Oz books are very, very good children's books. You don't have to read them, but if you have kids, it's a good excuse.) Title: Re: I've actually seen these movies! Post by: Flangepart on April 19, 2001, 12:14:53 PM Enemy at the gates. If you want more historical data on the story, the book, Oneshot-One kill should cover it, and add stories that can curl your hair. btw, the Old "Shoot the sniper through his own scope" deal is real. Gunny Sgt. Carlos Hathcock, U.S.M.C. did it to a VC sniper who tried to collect the NVA bounty on Ol' White feather's head. And if you want confirmation...ask Andrew. I've yet to meet a Marine who hasen't heard of Gunny Hathcock.
Title: Re: I've actually seen these movies! Post by: badmonkey on April 19, 2001, 03:57:36 PM Return to Oz is a great film, it totally turns the first one on its head.
Scared the crap out of me when I was 7 anyway. Title: Re: I've actually seen these movies! Post by: Flangepart on April 20, 2001, 11:05:19 AM I liked Return to Oz better then the original...weird,huh? At least it wasen't a......Musical! Ahhhhh!
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