more recent views: ghost world, the gift, monster high

[mr. henry]

today was a weekend of rest, so i caught up on some used video purchases...here are three...the first two are pretty mainstream...saw ghost world when it came out---one of my favorite newer movies...

Ghost World - 2001 (R). (VHS) Directed and co-written by Terry Zwigoff. Director of the brilliant Robert Crumb documentary "Crumb" tells a tale of endearing sadness that yet offers moments of inspiration via quirky individuality. Two recent high school graduates (Thora Birch and Scarlett Johanson) play a prank on Seymour (a great performance by Steve Buscemi), an older bookish fellow that has placed an ad in the personals following a chance meeting. As their lives become intertwined, the girls discover being a "dork" can sometimes be the coolest thing going. This film, co-written by "Ghost World" comic book author Daniel Clowes, is lushly populated by interesting caricatures and observations. Check out the mullet-sporting tube-socked farmer-tanned parking-lot-loitering nunchuka expert. RECOMMENDED.

The Gift - 2000 (R). Directed by Sam Raimi. A small town psychic (Cate Blanchett) gets tangled up in a local murder case while trying to help the investigation. She and her children are also threatened by a local wife-beater played by Keanu Reeves. Competent work is displyed by the entire cast, including performances by Giovanni Ribisi and Greg Kinnear. This pot-boiling supernatural thriller is a RECOMMENDED method of killing a dark and lazy afternoon. Oh yeah, also includes Katie Holmes' first ever nude scene.

Monster High - 1989 (R). (VHS) Low-budget flick directed by Nico Mastorakis. Space alien Mr. Armageddon is smuggled to Earth by Dume and Glume (bald aliens in spandex) where he then sets up shop in a high school and wreaks havoc. Armageddon eventually agrees to decide the fate of humanity via a basketball game. Get ready to watch a rag-wrapped mummy, a horned statue, a computer-monitor-headed creature, a midget-in-a-costume creature, a stumbling zombie, and Mr. Armageddon playing hoops. You'll wonder why the "kids" just don't leave the school and get help since they apparently can go outside at any time. NOT RECOMMENDED.

- mr. henry

[J.R.]

I liked The Gift, but the story was a bit weak. The whole subplot with the Buddy character's issues with his father just felt like filler. And the obligatory twist (all supernatural-themed films are required by law to have a twist) felt a bit forced and confusing. The acting and directing was superb, however. Even Keanu comes of well. I knew Sam Raimi was a good director, but hoo boy...

[Drezzy]

Oh no...does this make 4 movies that Keanu Reeves was born to only be in?!*

* = The other 3 should be well-known...but for you retards (and Canadians)...
Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure
Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey
Speed

[Too Many Other Andrews]

I thought Ghost World was the best movie of 2001.  I never thought that the guy who drew the Uggly Family for Cracked would eventualy get an Oscar nomination.

[J.R.]

I think LOTR and Memento were the best films of 2001, with Ghost World in there somewhere and they all had great adapted scripts. Bug off, Akiva Goldsman. He wrote Batman And Robin and Lost In Space, and should be punished, not rewarded.