Movie Reviews

Once again the master of psychological thrillers, Wes Craven, comes out with another horror film. It begins with your typical unexplainable occurrence (usually happens to an expendable character). When two young teenagers are found dead in the quiet little town of Woodsboro, California, strange events begin their cycle.

Starring Drew Barrymore, Neve Campbell (Party of Five), Courtney Cox (Friends), and David Arquette (Beautiful Girls), this shocking suspense is full of everything you would anticipate to see in a horror flick. Prank calls, young women home alone at night, creepy music, dark, cold lighting, the whistling sounds of the wind, mysterious knocks at the front door, scary masks, mysterious deaths, lots of screaming...well, you name it, it's in there. However, what makes this film stand out from other horror films is the fact that Wes Craven takes these well known genre characteristics we all have come to expect, and teases the audience with them.

I went with the attitude that this movie was going to be another film where the characters are clueless to what's going on. I was prepared to yell to the characters "get out of the house, quick!!" or "he's right behind you". But, I didn't have the chance because the characters happened to be horror film buffs and knew too well what to expect. That is what made this film entertaining to watch. Besides the fact that it came out in the theaters during the wrong month (October would have been more appropriate), it was definitely worth watching. Catch it before it gets too dark.

The Relic

If you thought Species was bad....this is another unimaginative movie lacking an original plot? It's your classic Alien meets Terminator (maybe its because the select few who produced those two films, brought the Relic, as well?) Penelope Ann Miller, Tom Sizemore, Linda Hunt and James Whitmore star in this oh-so-boring suspense/thriller. A strange species mutates into this huge monster and hides out under the natural history museum killing people and eating the hypothalamus portion of the brain so it can live (I hear it tastes like chicken). Director Peter Hyams states, "I believe that in order to truly frighten somebody, you have to make them believe that what they are seeing is real, and in order to do that, there has to be an intelligent basis to the story." Uhm, excuse me...the animated monster looked rather humorous (but most of the time it was too dark to see anything), and there was no intelligent basis to the story. Three fourths of the movie was spent searching for this mysterious "33% Homo sapiens" creature in the dark.

Penelope Ann Miller's acting was average, nothing to flip out over. There was actually a scene where the creature was face to face with Miller's character (a shot duplicated directly out of Alien 3...how pathetic!) If you didn't see it, you didn't miss much...

Metro

This movie, starring Eddie Murphy, Michael Rapaport, Michael Wincott, and Carmen Ejogo, is your typical cop-chase-bad-guy-while-blowing-up-stuff-in-the-process-until-good-guy-defeats-bad-guy-in-the-end film (ideal Hollywood formula). It's not your classic Beverly Hills Cop, but it had its moments. The plot wasn't very creative, naturally, but for an action flick, it had some worthwhile chase scenes and car stunts (if you are in to that sort of stuff). It was bearable, but a few people in the theater left in the middle...

I really wasn't too impressed with the overall film because too many subplots were crammed into this two hour story. They rushed through scenes that had the potential to be extremely humorous. Michael Rapaport and Eddie Murphy definitely complimented each other. Both were animated and entertaining. However, I really do believe that Eddie Murphy saved this movie (good casting call). If it weren't for his witty remarks and charming humor, this film would have flopped big time.

Everyone Says I Love You

I suppose in the midst of the "Evita" excitement, Woody Allen decided he needed to jump in and create his own musical. Although nothing like Evita, ^Everyone Says I Love You" is a wonderfully casted film with nonstop, hilarious, and overlapping dialogue that will have you laughing right out of the theater. Starring Alan Alda, Julia Roberts, Drew Barymore, Tim Roth, Goldie Hawn, and, of course, Woody Allen, this romantic comedy about true love and relationships takes you to the streets of Venice, Paris, and New York.

Woody Allen always seems to succeed with his distinct style, and this film is no exception. It was very pleasantly directed and brilliantly acted (I smell Oscar nominations). The plot was so outrageous that you almost had to make it into a musical in order for people to buy the story. I didn't know the cast could sing!! Even Woody, himself, sings a little solo in this film. The dance sequences were just unbelievably creative and the songs (although a little obscure) were quite catchy. This may even be Woody Allen's best film, yet.