C00L_HAND_LUKE

Nothing really unpredictable in this movie, but a solid flick in all respects. Everything from acting to cinematography was solid. Not a perfectly linear plot line, but there wasn't anything you couldn't see coming. Perhaps a tad melodramatic at points, but again, a fairly decent movie none the less. Definitely worth checking out. If in doubt of what film to rent over the weekend, give this a go. Though you may not feel like running out and buying it, I found it to be quite worth while.

As you've probably guessed by now, GoM isn't all that $hit hot. I think that this movie holds the record for disapointing me right off the bat with the hokiest looking sets. In this day in age, we STILL have sets that look like something out of the original Star Trek TV seriese. tsk tsk tsk. Here's a brief summary: Acting, directing, music, plot, makeup, editing, sets, costumes, special effects: abysmal Natasha Henstridge: HOT! Jason Statham: Cool! All else is under par with, say, Sesame Street. And why on earth (or mars, depending on how you wanna look at it) did the villians look like that?? Is that to further humiliate Goths?? I for one am insulted. When one considderes people like Orson Welles who lied about his age so that he could study theater in Europe and then people like Carpenter, what can he say?? "I took a course, so let's make some movies!" This film falls short of even being classified as entertainment let alone cinema! It mihgt have benefited more had Ice Cube had acted (well, about as much as can be expected from him) a little less like a "gangsta" and a little more...like....anything other than that!! I shudder to think that that far into the future people will not possess a more sophisticated intelect than: "Das right motha f*****!" Sigh, but alas, has Carpenter EVER created anything worthy of our attention?? So why should he start now??

Akira Kurosawa's rendition of Shakespeare's King Lear. Tatsuya Nakadai is brilliant as Lord Hidetora Ichimonji (Lear) as the King who divides his kingdom up amongst his sons, which results in them trying to force him off of the land. Beautiful cinematography and awe inspiring battle scenes make this film a pleasure to watch visually. Authentic looking sets and costumes only further the experience. Directing and editing are top notch, but Kurosawa would surely settle for nothing short of perfection. Some impressive stunts on horses occur throughout. Simply outstanding in EVERY respect.