Current Movies - # 82 - January, 2002
Staff
Ratings: | ||
Extraordinary | ||
Good | ||
Acceptable | ||
Mediocre | ||
Poor |
"Scary
Movie 2",
Dimension Films, 2001, Color, Presented at measured
aspect ratio 1.80:1, DD, 1 Hr 22 min, Rated R; Marlon Wayans, Shawn Wayans,
Anna Faris, Regina Hall, Tori Spelling, Tim Curry, Christopher Kennedy
Masterson, Chris Elliott; When "Hot Shots" came along, we all knew that
subsequent films like that one would get even more vulgar. "Scary Movie" had
the credentials for such vulgarity, and "Scary Movie 2" digs even lower. This
is why "scatology", "flatulence" and other similar words are in the
dictionary. However, most of the words that would describe the contents of
this movie are not in the dictionary. If you needed 2 beers to watch the
original movie, you will need about 3 1/2 for "Scary Movie 2". I
wonder if their microphones got rust on them because they were so close to the
toilets all the time. - JEJ -
Entertainment: | |
Video Quality: | |
Audio: | |
Photography: | |
Violence: | yes |
Sex: | yes |
Language: | the "F" and "S" words |
"Rock
Star",
Warner Brothers, 2001, Color, Presented at measured
aspect ratio 2.30:1, DD, 1 Hr 46 min, Rated R; Mark Wahlberg, Jennifer
Anniston; Chris
Cole (Wahlberg) repairs photocopiers for his day job, and at night, he plays
in a rock band that emulates his idol, Steel Dragon. When the lead singer for
Dragon is fired, the band hires Chris to take his place. Now Chris is able to
live his dream. Fame, money, drugs, women. But it turns out to be a nightmare
instead. The price of fame may be higher than he is willing to pay. The film
is extremely well done, and Jennifer Anniston does a great job as Chris'
girlfriend Emily. Although some people might like to lead this kind of life, I
think most will agree that this is no life at all. The numerous rock stars who
have died young are proof enough. - JEJ -
Entertainment: | |
Video Quality: | |
Audio: | |
Photography: | |
Violence: | mild |
Sex: | yes |
Language: | the "F" and "S" words |
"Rush
Hour 2",
New Line Home Entertainment, 2001,
Color, Presented at measured aspect ratio 2.35:1, DD, DTS-ES, 1 Hr 31
min, Rated PG-13; Jackie Chan, Chris Tucker, John Lone, Zivi Zhang, Roselyn
Sanchez, Harris Yulin, Alan King; Detective James Carter (Tucker) of the LAPD
is vacationing in China for two reasons. One is to visit his old friend Inspector Lee
(Chan) and secondly to enjoy the spoils of this exotic land. However, when the U.S.
Embassy in China is attacked, Lee�s over-commitment to his job is making the
latter impossible for Carter. Lee does fulfill his promise to show Carter
some Chinese hospitality, but only to go undercover to get close to Ricky Tan
(Lone), leader of the largest gang in China. When these two discover that
Ricky Tan may not be behind this crime they find themselves being a step
behind the real criminals. After the U.S. Embassy is bombed again, Carter
finds himself on his own in a familiar situation in an unfamiliar land, after
Lee mistakenly believes he (Carter) has been killed in the second bombing. It�s not
long until these two reunite hot on the trail of the real architects behind
the bombings. Fresh off her starring role in �Crouching Tiger, Hidden
Dragon�, the talented Zivi Zhang gives a strong performance. The chemistry
between Tucker and Chan is evident even if the storyline wasn�t the most
engaging. Still, Jackie Chan remains the ultimate DIY�er performing
impressive over-the-top stunts (although not as many as we�re used to)
throughout this movie. This DVD boasts DTS ES 6.1 surround in addition to a
bounty of quality extras. - JB -
Entertainment: | |
Video Quality: | |
Audio: | |
Photography: | |
Violence: | yes |
Sex: | mild |
Language: | the "S" word |
"One
Night at McCools",
USA Entertainment, 2001,
Color, Presented at measured aspect ratio 1.77:1, DD, 1 Hr 33
min, Rated R; Matt Dillon, Paul Reiser, John Goodman, Liv Tyler, Michael
Douglas, Andrew Dice Clay; After closing McCool�s bar for the night, Randy
(Dillon) the bartender believes he has met the girl of his dreams after he
makes what is perceived to be a daring rescue of a battered girl named Jewel
(Tyler). Later that evening after a guilty confession Randy finds out that he
was merely the next victim of a scam courtesy of Jewel and her boyfriend Utah
(Clay). Although Randy is relieved she didn�t follow through with her side of
the scheme, Utah shows up ready to end things quickly. When he finds nothing
in the house that he wants, he takes Randy back to McCool�s bar to open the
safe. This is where Jewel proves her spontaneous loyalty to Randy by shooting
her boyfriend dead, only to talk Randy in to taking a self-defense wrap for
her. Randy calls his lawyer cousin Carl (Reiser) for legal advice who happened
to be sitting outside the bar where most of the earlier events took place,
believing he had just seen the women of his dreams, who just happened to be
Jewel. Of course, if having two men in love with the same girl wasn�t enough,
Detective Dehling (Goodman), wielding the power of the law on his side,
believes he too has met the girl of his dreams in Jewel when he is called in
to investigate the shooting. When Randy�s world comes crashing down around him
because of this one girl he decides to put matters into the hands of hit man
Mr. Burmeister (Douglas). This film is well written and very entertaining
throughout, being re-told from the different perspectives of the main
characters. Included as a part of the extras is the ultra �depressing�
alternate ending for those who don�t believe in happy endings. - JB -
Entertainment: | |
Video Quality: | |
Audio: | |
Photography: | |
Violence: | yes |
Sex: | yes |
Language: | the "F" and "S" words |
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