lel513

Saw this movie this afternoon and liked it, mostly because I don't have a girlfriend or very much social life and this lets me vicariously live a simple dating life. No sex, not much real conflict, just two people who like each other slowly falling in love. Yes, there is a whole story line about another guy Abby(the main character) must deal with, a story line that I must say was unexpected and a bit on the strange side. I wouldn't have minded if that part of the movie was left out completely, because all I was looking for on a Saturday afternoon was a quiet movie without much real depth. I also didn't really care for the stoner best friend, although his humor was rather harmless.

What really kept me glued to the set was the character of Abby(played by Shiri Appleby). If I could design my dream girl, complete with looks and personality, it would be this girl down to a t. She is extremely beautiful and in the movie is shy, sweet, and loves art. I wish a girl like that actually existed in the real world, but I doubt I will find anything close. Anyway watching her on screen was bliss and I would watch Shiri in any movie all day long. I didn't really like her love interest(Nick Zano). He does the traditional guy transformation in romantic comedies. He starts out very stupid and uncaring, but changes to an intelligent, sensitive guy in the end. Oh the fantasy. I guess though Abby has such a powerful effect on him he must change.

In the end this movie was a nice fluff movie to watch when your lonely and need to go into other peoples lives when you don't have one. I would recommend it to people who need that fix.

Now I'm not claiming that Rocky IV is one of the great movies of all time, yet it is truly a popcorn movie to watch when you want to escape into the realm of 1980's, anti- communist, montage laden soup operas. It is truly the Rocky movies taken to the nth degree, with all its hedonistic glory. You not only have the famed death of Apollo Creed but a show down for the ages when Rocky must pummel not just another human, but the Soviet Union itself, single handy helping bring down communism(Yes its true, as Uncle Tom's Cabin was to slavery, Rocky IV was to communism). Everything in the movie is over the top, from James Brown singing "Living in America" with Apollo Creed coming down to the ring on a giant rams head, to Rocky running up a mountain in the middle of Siberia. Sylvestor Stallone(who did the triple threat as writer, director, and lead actor) takes this movie to where no Rocky movie can ever compare. One can not take it literally and point out all its flaws, which there are numerous, but must just sit back and enjoy the glorious ride. The original Rocky was a small story about a boxer from the mean streets of Philly, Rocky IV is a Shakespearian drama done in MTV styling and with TV movie like acting. Yes I did just compare Rocky IV to Shakespeare, what are you going to do about it? So in the end don't just watch this movie, experience it as a moment in cinema history that will never be repeated. Rocky IV is a ride: a crotch grabbing, America loving, sweaty body filled ride.

I remember staying up late a a year or two ago and aimlessly flipping through the channels on TV. Suddenly I saw a rather shabby looking movie that seemed to be science fiction related, so I stopped and watched. I was amazed at the movie I saw, the original Lathe of Heaven. It did look a bit dated but the story was so good and the ideas so interesting that I forgave it and really loved it. I even had an idea that someone should remake of the film to make it look beautiful and keep the complex story and ideas. When I heard of a remake being made for TV I was excited on what a new version could acomplish. So when I sat down to watch this movie last night I was extremely dissapointed. Yes the movie has modern production values but still it doesn't seem to look very good and could have been directed alot better. Imagine getting a major film director like David Fincher to direct this movie, it would have been beautiful. But even if it would have looked good the story was total wash out. They seemed to make it into a love story and disregard many of the other ideas the original

movie tackled. The love story falls completely flat when you put Lukas Haas and Lisa Bonet together, I would agree with others that they have zero chemistry and I found myself gagging when they kissed. She seemed too old for him and although she was good at her part when not romantic with Haas another actress may have been more appropriate. I think now I am resigned to having the original movie remain intact as the true Lathe of Heaven and no one should have tried to remake it, even if their intentions were good. I could only say they should have casted better and used the original movies script instead of trying to make their own vision of the story. Please do not only watch this version and not the original, this is not

representative.