Saran's Talk

The English Patient

Synopsis: Tuscany, as the Allies pursue the Germans north at the end of WWII: traumatised by loss and carnage, Canadian nurse Hana (Binoche) decides to stay behind in an abandoned, bombed monastery and care for her dying patient (Fiennes). He seems to recall little of his life, but when Caravaggio (Dafoe), a vengeful, morphine-addicted thief, turns up and quizzes him over past dark secrets, and as Hana reads from his beloved Herodotos, memories return of the pre-war years when, as an archaeologist/cartographer in the Sahara, he had a passionate affair with Katharine (Scott Thomas), wife of a British colleague.


My verdict: Though Anthony Minghella's adaptation of Michael Ondaatje's novel simplifies, jettisons and changes certain elements of the original story, it remains a rich, complex, entrancing piece of work. Part poignant romance, part suspenseful adventure, part enigmatic mystery, it's essentially a study in different responses to love and war, honour and betrayal, nationality and identity, falsehood and forgiveness, which sounds subtle echoes as the narrative flashes to and fro between two main time frames. Needless to say, the performances are flawless; more surprising is the fluency, poetry and scale of Minghella's direction (John Seale's sensuous desert photography is superb), equally eloquent whether depicting boudoir intimacies, bomb-disposal skills, drunken dementia or a deadly sandstorm.

Hero

EXCELLENT! Continuing on with my new found Martial arts madness this was MUCH better than The one.This is the stuff I like.In China with the history and great storyline behind it.But This is something VERY SPECIAL you guys.The sound and special effects in this are beyond your imagination.You need to see this on a big screen with an excellent home theater system to get the great sound effects.Oh God,and the colors,they thought of everything with this movie.I HIGHLY ,HIGHLY recommend this!!!Jet Li,I am falling for this guy more and more with every movie.I cannot say anything more about it,you seriously have to experience this one for yourself.SEE IT VERY SOON!

The Ruins

Hmmmm,Wow I'm so not happy I spent my time watching this.This is not a recommendation.This honestly has to be one of the most stupid movies I have ever seen =(

Diner

This was awesome.Such a great cast.I wish I had seen this a long time ago.Dam Mickey Rourke was such a hottie when he was younger....uhhh what happened.Anyway great flick,if you have not yet seen this you should!=)

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

Synopsis: It's 1938 and when Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) is informed by a wealthy American businessman that his father, Henry Jones (Sean Connery), has gone missing while researching a clue to the whereabouts of the Holy Grail, Indy sets off in search of him. With his father's Grail diary as a guide, he enlists the support of Dr Marcus Brody (Denholm Elliot) and the enigmatic Austrian professor Dr Elsa Schneider (Alison Doody) only to realise that the latter is not all she seems.

After finding his father, the Jones boys find themselves in a frantic race against time to beat the Nazis to the Holy Grail, the cup that holds the blood of Jesus and can grant men immortality.

My verdict: The third installment in the Indiana Jones saga bucked the trend of most sequels (ie, the law of diminishing returns) by actually bettering the sequel [Temple of Doom] and matching the feelgood element of the original Raiders Of The Lost Ark.

Part of this lay with Steven Spielberg's welcome decision to lay off the nastier elements of the sequel (or prequel) in favour of the knockabout fun of Raiders.

But most of it lay with the decision to cast Sean Connery as Indy's father. It was a stroke of genius.

The banter and camaraderie between Ford and Connery added a new element to proceedings that made for an even more enjoyable adventure. It was both funny and touching and played to the strengths of both actors.

Key moments in their relationship included a terrific scene in which they were bound back-to-back to each other on two chairs and forced to unite to escape a burning room (caused by Connery's own incompetence with a lighter) and their reunion in Africa following the tank chase sequence, when Snr thought Jnr had perished.

Alison Doody also played her part in accentuating the rivalry that existed between father and son, having bedded both of them during various twists and turns in the story (though we're thankfully spared a sex scene involving Connery).

In fine Indiana Jones tradition, The Last Crusade also boasted a number of spectacular set pieces, including the aforementioned tank sequence, a cracking canal chase in Venice and a moment involving the Jones boys on a motorbike and sidecar not to mention an exploding Zeppelin and the opening flashback (that found River Phoenix playing the young Indiana Jones).

And let's not forget the audacious sequence in which Indy gets an autograph from none other than Adolf Hitler!

The Last Crusade also boasted memorable support from returning cast members Jonathan Rhys-Davies and the late Denholm Elliott, who was finally given more to do as Indy's bumbling college colleague and some typically formidable villains.

Indeed, such is the overall sense of enthusiasm surrounding this third film in the series, that it's little wonder to find that Steven Spielberg has since declared it to be his own personal favourite. It's a fun ride that actually plays to a wider audience because of its emphasis on family values over harder violence. I'll go with Spielberg and say it's the best one.

The Incredible Hulk

NOT INTERESTED

Once

Wow so what do you get when you take a story,A Plot and strip down and beat all the "Hollywood" off of it?Scary thought huh?Yes,Because then you are dependent oin2 things a story that can carry itself,and then actors who are convincing enough to keep you interested in that story.Not to mention I have never even heard of the actors that were in this before seeing it.However it doesn't matter something big came from something very small.This movie was likre the little engine that could It's like a present from your best friend that means so much to you,and is so dear,you want to keep it and hold it as close to your heart as possible.If you could just ball it up and keep it in your shirt ,or jacket pocket all day and just take it out and listen,and feel what is really being said here from time to time.How do you explain a movie that is so great and so full of passion,and explain,there are no explosions,no exciting 40 minute sex marathons,no non-stop comedy,but yet everyone should see this.I guarantee there is something in everyone's life that they are going through right now,This very day,this movie will move you,and hone in and kick that very emotion into high gear.I for once and kind of left speechless again,All I can say is the movie is Amazing yes,I say that alot,but saying it here is an understatement.Its beautiful its is simple,it's just like life,Enjoy this one,EVERYONE should see this.Men this is not a chick flick there is a story for you here too,I swear.=)

Kung Fu Panda

NOT INTERESTED

The Happening

NOT INTERESTED

Good Morning, Vietnam

Ahhh Robin Williams,I can never get enough,His talent seems limitless.So versatile in the characters he portrays.This was great comedy covering the surface of the ugliness of the Vietnam war.It was much better than I expected.You should definitely check this out if you haven't yet =)

Suicide Kings

Awesome! Loved it,I love the cast,Walken Dennis Leary,Sean Patrick Flanery!!Great action and suspense,A curvy ass twist ending,If you haven't seen this you need too.=)

The One

This movie was pretty good,since I have been on my Martial arts kick I couldn't wait to see this.Soooo,verdict is I liked it,There was a secret bonus for me,I didn't know my man Jason Staham was in it (sigh),That made it 10 times better.As far as Jet Li,I am NO expert and heve seen very few films,but I will say I prefer his stuff on his own turf.With the old ancient rituals,slow graceful asian life and respect.The 'Americanized' jet Li I just dont like as much.Please don't send me a bunch of hate messages over this.I wanted to see more martial arts,I saw some great action,some good special effects and then some special effects that were downright cheesy and absurd.I will continue to watch Jet Li,I am just finding that I guess I will be one of those that turns out liking his earlier movies when there is much more martial arts shown.=)

Rosemary's Baby

This was wayyyy trippy.See like I tell me girlfirends get to know the guy before you marry him,lol.Those neighbors were annoying as hell and I wouldn't have been drinking that mixture of garbage for anyone.Oh and it is just never nice to hang an upside down cross over your baby's bassinett =(

You Don't Mess with the Zohan