Reviews Written by David
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March 7, 2006
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March 2, 2006
aviator?
Pros: the cars and the planes
Cons: everything else
A dreadful cast (except for Cate Blanchett, who did Katharine Hepburn very well)
and a slow-as-molasses story
shows how easy it is to waste a huge amount of money.
Did they make it up as they went along? If so, that worked for Casablanca, but not for this turkey. ... -
February 23, 2006
Beyond the Gridiron
Pros: Balanced commentary
Cons: None
This is a beautifully done,
thoughtfully presented study of one of college football's
greatest coaches. Interviews
from insiders, who knew him,
and outsiders, offer a fair and balanced look at a very complex human being. It is sometimes reverential, and sometimes critical. It should be required viewing in all college football programs. ... -
January 26, 2006
world's greatest fair
Pros: wonderful snapshots
Cons: political commentary
In the main, this is a fascinating look at, and
explanation of, the world's fair of 1904. The photographs are superb; the
cataloging of achievements is mind-boggling. But there is also a section on race relations in the documentary that, quite bluntly, is
out of place, is tactless, and detracts from the wonder of a great exposition. ... -
January 26, 2006
flightbore
Pros: you get to see the innards of an airplane!
Cons: the story and the acting
A far-fetched story about a woman whose young daughter seems to disappear on a transatlantic flight (!).
The movie stars Jodie Foster as ... Jodie Foster, who, like John Wayne many years ago, knows only one way to act. In her case, a quasi-
hysterical wonder woman.
Yawn. ... -
November 23, 2005
war of the worlds?
3 of 6 Yahoo! Users found this review helpfulPros: Special effects
Cons: Everything else
As flawed as the original film was (1953), it was a hundred times better than this sorry remake. Once again, Spielberg proves he can't make serious science fiction (only fluffy stuff, like E.T.). Flat, boring, poorly acted, totally devoid of memorable lines, this one is best forgotten. ...
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June 6, 2005
The Outlaw Josey Wales
0 of 1 Yahoo! Users found this review helpfulPros: Pretty scenery
Cons: Slow, slow, slow
It's hard to imagine a boring Clint Eastwood film, but this is it. Add to that one filming goof after another (too many, really, to count) and you get a film that wandered, staggered, and then fell dead. Very, very disappointing. ...
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February 26, 2005
Victoria & Albert
Pros: Costumes and the sets
Cons: Casting and the history
A nice bit of fluff from A&E, reminiscent of what Ted Turner attempted with "Young Catherine" back in the 90s.
It's an agreeable enough presentation, despite the casting of the principal characters. They just don't ring true as Victoria and her consort. Additionally, Diana Rigg looked wretchedly old, and Peter Ustinov gave us his Old Man (from "Logan's Run") portrayal one last time. The history, of course, suffers, as A&E tried to make Victoria much more important in the running of Britain than she actually was. Finally, the last episode was raced along, with whole decades being treated as flashes. Still, it could have been worse. ... -
The American Experience - Lindbergh: The Shocking, Turbulent Life of America's Lone Eagle (1988)
by Stephen Ives | VideoPrice: $17.49 to $17.49 Compare PricesFebruary 11, 2005
Lindbergh
Pros: Plenty of old films
Cons: Biased narrative
A vengeful, often disgusting, tearing down of an American hero by the politically correct forces at PBS. Nowhere
are FDR's blunders in foreign policy in the 1930s even mentioned -- the same blunders that ultimately set Lindbergh up for a fall. A monstrous revision of reality. ... -
February 5, 2005
Troy
0 of 2 Yahoo! Users found this review helpfulPros: Pretty scenery
Cons: Everything else
Hollywood has never made a decent film about the Trojan War, and this offering certainly doesn't alter that record.
Poorly directed, with banal dialogue and wretched casting, Troy is boring, insipid, and just plain stupid. Poor Homer;
what have we poor mortals done to your celebrated story of power and love? ...
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Lord of War
Pros: nothing
Cons: everything
Cold, vulgar, tasteless, insensitive, dull, and offensive -- what on EARTH motivated Cage to make this turkey?