Coming of age film about a boy and his pet cheetah. Plus 1/2 star for featuring a cheetah. Minus 1/2 star for naming the cheetah after the Swahili form of the word.
I had hoped to gain some insights on the life of Queen Elizabeth II but came away with only a glimpse of the Queen's response to Diana's death. I credit Helen Mirren for taking on the role of the enigmatic queen. However, the film only seems to provide polish on already televised footage of the royal family.
rated this high only cause it's still a good classic story. not crazy about the casting of Dakota Fanning, among others, but some good voiceovers, notably Julia Roberts. in general, the film managed to maintain a classic feel.
the various interpersonal dynamics never quite seem to pull together in this film but that may well reflect the disjointed relationships in this story. nuanced storytelling by Ang Lee, good musical score, beautiful scenery.
well-layered film...beautiful Kenyan landscapes. felt "manipulated" once again by a Rachel Weisz-played character (as in "Runaway Jury") but compelling nonetheless.
glad to see the Transformers in a live-action format. however, the film was slow in developing and one never gains a real appreciation for the tensions between the Autobots and Decepticons.