Hey everyone. I'm going to make this intro short and sweet. Here are three more reviews for you. Expect quite a few more later. Enjoy.


Wedding Crashers
Review by Jon Waterman

***1/2

By day, John and Jeremy are two divorce mediators. They make their living off of other people’s misfortune and troubles. On the other side of it, they also reap the benefits of couples’ happiness and good intentions. They crash weddings. Equipped with fake names and an emotionally charged backstory, they invite themselves to every wedding during the busy season in order to hook up with some single bridesmaids. On the last wedding of the season, the duo might just have to pull some overtime in order to win their prize, but will it be worth all the trouble?

This is the movie I wanted “Meet the Parents” to be. You have the similar situation of a guy meeting the family for the first time, with an eccentric cast of characters all around them. What this movie does different is that it puts all that madcap activity and tones it down into a more believable and (more importantly) a much, much less predictable progression.
(more...)


+++++++++


Intolerance
Review by Jon Waterman

**1/2

“Intolerance” is really four stories in one. In present day America (the film was released in 1916), a group of so-called social do-gooders attempt to bring aid to a young single mother’s child, inadvertently destroying her life. In 14th century France, the St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre is explored. There’s the well-known tale of Jesus’ condemnation. And also, in Babylonia, a senseless battle emerges. All threaten to tear the delicate fabric of society widely apart, and the film would have you believe that such injustice is ongoing and by watching, realizations will be made and reforms put into action before its too late.

Really, what writer/director D. W. Griffith is trying to make you believe is that he actually knows the definition of the word “intolerance” when I’m not so certain. The modern day thread of the tapestry especially misses the mark. The social reformers aren’t actually intolerant of anything, they’re just heartless and stubborn. What causes them to hunt down and steal the baby away from the mother is not their intolerance for single parenting or injustice or anything – its just pure irrationality and failure to listen to reason.
(more...)


++++++++


Edward Scissorhands
Review by Jon Waterman

****

On her normal route, door-to-door make-up saleswoman Peg comes across the same supposedly abandoned mansion she always sees. Today, she decides to go in. Up the long, creepy, winding stairs, lurking in the attic is a young man – with scissors for hands. He’s a surprisingly shy type who appears to be relatively harmless, so Peg brings the lonely Edward home. The townspeople aren’t quite as excited about his arrival, because anything new can startle or frighten them. But they’ll soon learn that Edward belongs in the community too. Doesn’t he?

Director Tim Burton and writer Caroline Thompson bring us a truly original modern-day fairytale. The storybook setting is laid out perfectly, from the old woman narrator to the stereotypical character types to the flamboyantly rich locations. Stefan Czapsky’s cinematography captures the outrageous neighborhood locales beautifully. The quirkiness of the town is accentuated with the unusually bright and vivid houses, painted in various shades of neon and electric pastel.
(more...)