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movies-digest         Wednesday, May 12 1999         Volume 02 : Number 186



Re: [MV] The Mummy review
[MV] REVIEW: EDGE OF SEVENTEEN
[MV] STAR WARS: EPISODE I coverage
[MV] Movie News - 05/10/99
RE: [MV] The Mummy review
Re: [MV] The Mummy review
Re: [MV] Entrapment Review
[MV] Re:
[MV] Re:  eXistenZ
RE: [MV] The Mummy review
RE: [MV] The Mummy review (SPOILERS)
RE: [MV] The Mummy review
[MV] Movie News - 05/11/99
Re: [MV] The Mummy review & Sam Raimi
[MV] Election review
[MV] Star Wars, Episode 1 (First Impressions)
[MV] REVIEW: WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE'S A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Sun, 9 May 1999 23:48:42 -0500
From: "Tonya =)" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: [MV] The Mummy review

I just went to see this movie tonight.   I loved it.  I had expected a lot
less.  I thought it was scary, but I also found myself lauging quite a bit
throughout the 2 hours.  It was very enjoyable.  I would definitely go back
and see it again if I had to.

Tonya

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------------------------------

Date: Mon, 10 May 1999 08:08:46 -0600 (MDT)
From: Scott Renshaw <[e-mail]>
Subject: [MV] REVIEW: EDGE OF SEVENTEEN

EDGE OF SEVENTEEN
(Strand)
Starring:  Chris Stafford, Tina Holmes, Andersen Gabrych, Stephanie McVay,
Lea DeLaria.
Screenplay:  Todd Stephens.
Producers:  David Moreton and Todd Stephens.
Director:  David Moreton.
MPAA Rating:  R (profanity, sexual situations, adult themes)
Running Time:  100 minutes.
Reviewed by Scott Renshaw.

     Perhaps it's an indication of how far we have come, but gay
coming-of-age films are becoming as formula-bound and potentially trite as
straight coming-of-age films.  Confused younger protagonist, experienced
older object of desire, confrontations with friends and/or family who just
don't understand...we have been there, and we have done that.  To
paraphrase my colleague Mike D'Angelo, we have to ask ourselves whether we
would care about the people or the situation if the central romantic
entaglements were heterosexual, and often the answer is no.  Gay or
straight, "I was never the same after that summer" films often go nowhere
new or interesting.

     EDGE OF SEVENTEEN does try to take us somewhere new, exploring an
angle most gay-themed films only view as an afterthought:  how friends and
family respond to a startling coming-out.  Writer Todd Stephens'
semi-autobiographical story centers on Eric Hunter (Chris Stafford),
approaching his senior year of high school in Sandusky, Ohio circa 1984
with only the typical 17-year-old concerns:  working a summer job (here at
a lakeside amusement park), figuring out college plans, deciding which
skinny tie goes with his dyed hair, and hanging out with his best female
friend Maggie (Tina Holmes).  Then an amusement park co-worker named Rod
(Andersen Gabrych) catches Eric's eye in an unexpected way, turning his
simple Middle American life upside-down.

     In some ways, EDGE OF SEVENTEEN is quite a conventional independent
film examining gay subject matter.  The narrative eventually spends a lot
of time in Sandusky's only gay bar as Eric begins hanging out with the
friends of his lesbian amusement park supervisor (comic Lea DeLaria), with
the predictable exchanges of catty barbs ensuing.  Fortunately, even those
scenes are sparked by the unaffected, appealing work of Stafford in the
lead role.  His goofy innocence and teen-Jim Carrey grin generate
surprising sympathy in Eric's predicament as he begins exploring his
sexuality in secret.  The technical credits may be predictably shaky and
the supporting performances uneven (Gabrych is somewhat wooden as Eric's
first love), but EDGE OF SEVENTEEN manages to hold some interest in its
story even when it's not revolutionary...and it is amusing to hear the
Bronski Beat again.

     The really good news in EDGE OF SEVENTEEN also turns out, ultimately,
to be the bad news.  The film's best two best performances emerge when
Stafford and director David Moreton begin to address the confusion of
those who don't know how to react when a loved one announces that he's
gay.  Stephanie McVay has one marvelous scene as Eric's mother, trying to
reconcile her feelings about "gay people" with the notion that her son is
one.  Even better is Tina Holmes as Maggie, whose tries to support Eric
even as she deals with her own unrequited crush on him.  As sensitively as
the filmmakers handle Eric's various experimentations, none of them bear
quite the emotional impact of the responses of these two women to Eric's
sexual orientation.

     In general, EDGE OF SEVENTEEN feels neither revelatory nor redundant,
merely unfolding with a simple honesty that makes it feel blandly
familiar.  The strength of two young performers -- particularly Holmes, an
actress to watch for -- elevates the film a bit above its like-themed kin,
but not as much as a different focus might have done.  Perhaps Stephens
was too close to the experience of his own coming-out to recognize that
the strength of his story was on the periphery.  If he had run with that
unique angle, he might have been on to a really good film instead of a
slightly-above-average story of how someone was never the same after that
summer.

     On the Renshaw scale of 0 to 10 Sandusky nights:  6.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
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                    http://www.inconnect.com/~renshaw/
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------------------------------

Date: Mon, 10 May 1999 09:13:01 -0600 (MDT)
From: Scott Renshaw <[e-mail]>
Subject: [MV] STAR WARS: EPISODE I coverage

Subscribers,

Due to the Lucasfilm-imposed blackout on online media, I will not be able
to attend a preview screening of STAR WARS: EPISODE I to provide
pre-release coverage.  I will make every effort to provide the earliest
possible review, but the unique nature of this release may make attendance
difficult.  Thank you in advance for your patience.

Scott

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   Visit Scott Renshaw's Screening Room
                    http://www.inconnect.com/~renshaw/
                                   ***
             Subscribe to receive new reviews directly by email!
 See the Screening Room for details, or reply to this message with subject
                               "Subscribe".
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------------------------------

Date: Mon, 10 May 1999 09:35:22 -0600
From: "The Reporter" <[e-mail]>
Subject: [MV] Movie News - 05/10/99

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Defying analysts, critics and The Force, "The
Mummy" bagged this year's biggest opening weekend at the box office
with $44.6 million to kick off the blockbuster movie season. The
cat-burglar caper "Entrapment" slipped to second place with $12.2
million and the cyberspace adventure "The Matrix" fell to third with
$6 million, estimates showed Sunday. With lukewarm reviews, many
expected "The Mummy," a special effects-filled story of an ancient
Egyptian priest who returns from the dead, to do mediocre business
before dropping out of sight when the "Star Wars" prequel opens on
May 19. "Actually, it probably did three times as much business as
people were expecting," said Robert Bucksbaum, a movie analyst with
Reel Source Inc.

                        -=> * <=-

NEW YORK (AP) - He describes himself as an independent filmmaker from
San Francisco simply out to make a movie for kids. And Cecil B.
DeMille made a little Bible story. The man is George Lucas and his
movie "Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace," which opens later
this month, already has fans camping out in anticipation. "We tried
very hard to not let the film be overhyped," Lucas insisted Sunday at
a New York press conference. "It kind of got out of control and got
overhyped anyway. There's not much you can do about that." Lucas said
a backlash by the critics is inevitable.

                        -=> * <=-

LONDON (AP) - Sir Dirk Bogarde, the British actor who starred in more
than 70 films and captured the hearts of many women in the 1950s,
died Saturday, his nephew said. He was 78. The British film star, who
achieved his greatest fame in "Death in Venice," died of a heart
attack at his London home, said Brock Van den Bogaerde. He suffered a
damaging stroke in 1996 and had been under 24-hour nursing care since
last May. "He was extremely happy and looking forward to events like
his 80th birthday and many plans for the future," his nephew said.
"I'm sure there is not a better way to go." Born in London on March
28, 1921, Dirk Niven Van den Bogaerde was the son of a former actress
and a photograph editor of The Times.


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------------------------------

Date: Mon, 10 May 1999 12:48:20 -0700
From: "Romero, Leticia" <[e-mail]>
Subject: RE: [MV] The Mummy review

I thought it was a hoot!  The effects were a bit wanting, the story
extremely pat and convenient, but damn!  Didn't Brandon look beautiful?

> -----Original Message-----
> From:    Jason Cormier [SMTP:[e-mail]]
> Sent:    Sunday, May 09, 1999 11:52 PM
> To:    [e-mail]
> Subject:    Re: [MV] The Mummy review
>
> Yeah - I hear ya!  You won't find I bigger Indy fan around other than me -
> I
> am honestly wearing an Indiana Jones T-Shirt right now.  So I was hoping
> it
> wouldn't disgust me with all the rip offs.  However - right away we see
> that
> the movie isn't taking itself too seriously (with the female lead
> balancing
> on the ladder and knocking over all the books - pretty stupid but it set
> the
> tone).  If it played out like Stargate did - which was very serious - then
> it falls flat (imho) and it becomes easy to pick out all the bad
> components
> of the film.  I was lucky that I was in the right mood and I enjoyed the
> ride though I understand where you're coming from.  I often dislike movies
> that the general poplace enjoys (take Stargate or Independence Day for
> examples!)
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: kwhite <[e-mail]>
> To: [e-mail] <[e-mail]>
> Date: Sunday, May 09, 1999 12:28 PM
> Subject: Re: [MV] The Mummy review
>
>
> >Jason,
> >
> >I went to see this with some friends last night.  I'm glad you liked it.
> We
> >sure didn't.  From the previews, I was expecting something awesome
> however,
> >found the special effects the only good thing about it.  While watching
> it,
> I
> >couldn't help but wonder where Harrison Ford was.  In my opinion, they
> tried to
> >hard to make this an Indiana Jones kind of movie without a good story
> line.
> >Even the music was horrible.
> >
> >Jason Cormier wrote:
> >
> >> Wow!  What a hoot!  If you are looking for some of that slam-bam thank
> you
> >> mam summer-time action- then you have found it in the Mummy.  Go into
> this
> >> movie expecting to see a movie that does NOT take itself too seriously.
> >> Everything here is just for fun.  The action is very fast paced and
> there
> >> seems to be a new action sequence starting right when the last one is
> >> finishing up.  There are no lengthy romance sub plots or 'let's learn
> about
> >> Egyptian times' sub plots - although both of these things occur - it is
> done
> >> in between all the action so that it is nice to have a breather once in
> a
> >> while!  A great way to kick off the summer (as opposed to last year's
> Deep
> >> Impact or Twister the year before that).  I give it a funky 80%.
> >>
> >> btw - Happy Mummy's day.
> >>
> >> [ To leave the movies mailing list, send the message "unsubscribe ]
> >> [ movies" (without the quotes) to [e-mail]          ]
> >
> >
> >[ To leave the movies mailing list, send the message "unsubscribe ]
> >[ movies" (without the quotes) to [e-mail]          ]
> >
>
>
> [ To leave the movies mailing list, send the message "unsubscribe ]
> [ movies" (without the quotes) to [e-mail]          ]

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------------------------------

Date: Mon, 10 May 1999 22:02:39 -0400
From: "Chris Culligan" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: [MV] The Mummy review

I was disappointed.  It wasn't scary.  Every time it looked like it might
get scary some one made a stupid wisecrack that lightened the mood.  The
effects were good, but that doesn't mean what it did five years ago.  I was
expecting a horror film.  Instead I got an Indiana Jones movie with bad
timing on the comic elements (Indiana Jones didn't have that problem).

CHRIS

- ----- Original Message -----
From: Jason Cormier <[e-mail]>
To: <[e-mail]>
Sent: Monday, May 10, 1999 2:52 AM
Subject: Re: [MV] The Mummy review


> Yeah - I hear ya!  You won't find I bigger Indy fan around other than me -
I
> am honestly wearing an Indiana Jones T-Shirt right now.  So I was hoping
it
> wouldn't disgust me with all the rip offs.  However - right away we see
that
> the movie isn't taking itself too seriously (with the female lead
balancing
> on the ladder and knocking over all the books - pretty stupid but it set
the
> tone).  If it played out like Stargate did - which was very serious - then
> it falls flat (imho) and it becomes easy to pick out all the bad
components
> of the film.  I was lucky that I was in the right mood and I enjoyed the
> ride though I understand where you're coming from.  I often dislike movies
> that the general poplace enjoys (take Stargate or Independence Day for
> examples!)
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: kwhite <[e-mail]>
> To: [e-mail] <[e-mail]>
> Date: Sunday, May 09, 1999 12:28 PM
> Subject: Re: [MV] The Mummy review
>
>
> >Jason,
> >
> >I went to see this with some friends last night.  I'm glad you liked it.
> We
> >sure didn't.  From the previews, I was expecting something awesome
however,
> >found the special effects the only good thing about it.  While watching
it,
> I
> >couldn't help but wonder where Harrison Ford was.  In my opinion, they
> tried to
> >hard to make this an Indiana Jones kind of movie without a good story
line.
> >Even the music was horrible.
> >
> >Jason Cormier wrote:
> >
> >> Wow!  What a hoot!  If you are looking for some of that slam-bam thank
> you
> >> mam summer-time action- then you have found it in the Mummy.  Go into
> this
> >> movie expecting to see a movie that does NOT take itself too seriously.
> >> Everything here is just for fun.  The action is very fast paced and
there
> >> seems to be a new action sequence starting right when the last one is
> >> finishing up.  There are no lengthy romance sub plots or 'let's learn
> about
> >> Egyptian times' sub plots - although both of these things occur - it is
> done
> >> in between all the action so that it is nice to have a breather once in
a
> >> while!  A great way to kick off the summer (as opposed to last year's
> Deep
> >> Impact or Twister the year before that).  I give it a funky 80%.
> >>
> >> btw - Happy Mummy's day.
> >>
> >> [ To leave the movies mailing list, send the message "unsubscribe ]
> >> [ movies" (without the quotes) to [e-mail]          ]
> >
> >
> >[ To leave the movies mailing list, send the message "unsubscribe ]
> >[ movies" (without the quotes) to [e-mail]          ]
> >
>
>
> [ To leave the movies mailing list, send the message "unsubscribe ]
> [ movies" (without the quotes) to [e-mail]          ]
>


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------------------------------

Date: Mon, 10 May 1999 20:59:01 -0700 (PDT)
From: Nicole M Monte <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: [MV] Entrapment Review

On Tue, 4 May 1999, Mel Eperthener wrote:

> At 07.36 AM 04/05/99 -0700, Jason Cormier wrote:
> >Going into this movie I was expecting bad things.  This is always a great
> >way to see a movie because even if it's mediocre then it seems like much
> >more!
>
> Good philosophy.  The reason I was disappointed in Pleasantville is that it
> *looked* so good.  I *expected* a great movie, and it wasn't.  And
> Waterboy, I heard it was sooooo funny, and maybe laughed three times.
>
> Meanwhile, I actually enjoyed Dead Man on Campus and Night at the Roxbury,
> not because they were great movies, but rather because they weren't as bad
> as I expected.  The unexpected laughter at those movies was more of a
> pleasure than the lack of expected laughter at Waterboy.
>
> Perhaps our mantra should be Star Wars Sucks.  It will make the viewing
> experience even better:-)
>
> Regards,
>
> --Mel
>
>
> --Mel Eperthener
> president, Gowanna Multi-media Pty
>
> email: [e-mail]
>           [e-mail]
>
> http://www.webz.com/gowanna
>
> 419 Butler Street
> PO Box 95184
> Pittsburgh, PA 15223-0184
> [phone]
> [phone]
> 1-888-45-GOWANNA -- TOLL FREE
> (1-888-454-6926)
> ____________________________________________
> "Mulder, if you had to do without a cell phone for
> two minutes, you'd lapse into catatonic schizophrenia"
>
> --Dana Scully
> ______________________________________________
>
>
> [ To leave the movies mailing list, send the message "unsubscribe ]
> [ movies" (without the quotes) to [e-mail]          ]
>
I saw Dead Man On Campus and felt it was torture to get through.  On the
other hand I thought Pleasantville, while at times was a little too much,
ended up being a really entertaining film.  The entire idea of
Pleasantville was so clever and the effects where so good that I loved it.

On the other hand I thought Dead Man On Campus was a no brainer and worse
yet a terrible no brainer.  As for Entrappment, I could not get into a
movie where a man who is almost seventy has a love interest who is not
even thirty!
 --
Nicole M Monte
[e-mail]



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------------------------------

Date: Tue, 11 May 1999 16:30:06 +0800
From: ANDY <[e-mail]>
Subject: [MV] Re:

"Just Different." =BCg=B9D=A1G

> unsubscribe movies
>
> [ To leave the movies mailing list, send the message "unsubscribe ]
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------------------------------

Date: Tue, 11 May 1999 12:26:13 +0200
From: manuel morrens <[e-mail]>
Subject: [MV] Re:  eXistenZ

- --------------FB6EF0D074DAA6EE9556D6B8
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Okay maybe some of you didn't/will not like it, but I thought it was brilliant>

It was quite original and that's what really turns me on in movies.

Cronenberg is just the kind of director you love or otherwise you hate him. But this

picture was his best one so far.

 What I loved is that the SF-part in this movie is not really in the images

(except for the bio-gun and the pods), but it's rather in the story. That's why I loved GATTACA so much,

for example, one of the best movies from this decade.

I taped VIDEODROME (the only other movie from Cronenberg he wrote himself) the other night and will

see it one of these days, ...my expectations are very high.....



- --------------FB6EF0D074DAA6EE9556D6B8
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<HTML>

<PRE>Okay maybe some of you didn't/will not like it, but I thought it was brilliant></PRE>

<PRE>It was quite original and that's what really turns me on in movies.</PRE>

<PRE>Cronenberg is just the kind of director you love or otherwise you hate him. But this</PRE>

<PRE>picture was his best one so far.</PRE>

<PRE> What I loved is that the SF-part in this movie is not really in the images</PRE>

<PRE>(except for the bio-gun and the pods), but it's rather in the story. That's why I loved GATTACA so much,</PRE>

<PRE>for example, one of the best movies from this decade.</PRE>

<PRE>I taped VIDEODROME (the only other movie from Cronenberg he wrote himself) the other night and will</PRE>

<PRE>see it one of these days, ...my expectations are very high.....</PRE>
 </HTML>

- --------------FB6EF0D074DAA6EE9556D6B8--


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------------------------------

Date: Tue, 11 May 1999 08:43:28 +0100
From: Wade Snider <[e-mail]>
Subject: RE: [MV] The Mummy review

I agree with Jason's comments. I loved watching Indy growing up, and have
lamented a lot of the attempts to copy it for the past 18 years. The Mummy
steals a lot of this action subgenre cliches, as well as some of those from
the old adventure serials of the 30s and 40s, and then it does have a weak
story and some seriously CHEAP dialogue. All these characters somehow felt
the need to make a corny wisecrack before or after every little action
sequence. "This just keeps getting better and better." "We are in serious
trouble."(repeated a few times in the movie) and you have a typical
swashbuckling American, a klutzy educated female, a comical and shifty
supporting character in the lead female's brother. You have a secret society
of egyptians, bumbling yet forcefully brash competing Americans, and so on.
Sure, you see just how good the Indiana Jones movies really were when
compared to a movie like this. I don't think it is intended to be scary, and
it isn't. There were still some funny moments here and there, and laughingly
groaning at the cheap dialogue made the movie fun. One of my favorite
throwaway lines was when the lead actress is investigating a noise in the
museum and as she tip-toes through the room she calls out gently, "Abdul?
Mohammed? Bob?"  I laughed.

Yeah, the movie is packed with cliches and ripoffs and corny lines, but even
so I enjoyed it a lot. I don't think the producers were trying to make
something original; and they probably knew the movie was corny and silly.
But, it moved at a rapid pace and never really lagged. As Jason said, the
movie never took itself too seriously, and if you sit back and relax, it is
easy to enjoy. It's just simple fluffy candy, but it is quite fun. Add
better dialogue and some original story lines, and this is how
action-adventure movies should be.

Wade

> -----Original Message-----
> From:    Chris Culligan [SMTP:[e-mail]]
> Sent:    Monday, May 10, 1999 9:03 PM
> To:    [e-mail]
> Subject:    Re: [MV] The Mummy review
>
> I was disappointed.  It wasn't scary.  Every time it looked like it might
> get scary some one made a stupid wisecrack that lightened the mood.  The
> effects were good, but that doesn't mean what it did five years ago.  I
> was
> expecting a horror film.  Instead I got an Indiana Jones movie with bad
> timing on the comic elements (Indiana Jones didn't have that problem).
>
> CHRIS
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Jason Cormier <[e-mail]>
> To: <[e-mail]>
> Sent: Monday, May 10, 1999 2:52 AM
> Subject: Re: [MV] The Mummy review
>
>
> > Yeah - I hear ya!  You won't find I bigger Indy fan around other than me
> -
> I
> > am honestly wearing an Indiana Jones T-Shirt right now.  So I was hoping
> it
> > wouldn't disgust me with all the rip offs.  However - right away we see
> that
> > the movie isn't taking itself too seriously (with the female lead
> balancing
> > on the ladder and knocking over all the books - pretty stupid but it set
> the
> > tone).  If it played out like Stargate did - which was very serious -
> then
> > it falls flat (imho) and it becomes easy to pick out all the bad
> components
> > of the film.  I was lucky that I was in the right mood and I enjoyed the
> > ride though I understand where you're coming from.  I often dislike
> movies
> > that the general poplace enjoys (take Stargate or Independence Day for
> > examples!)
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: kwhite <[e-mail]>
> > To: [e-mail] <[e-mail]>
> > Date: Sunday, May 09, 1999 12:28 PM
> > Subject: Re: [MV] The Mummy review
> >
> >
> > >Jason,
> > >
> > >I went to see this with some friends last night.  I'm glad you liked
> it.
> > We
> > >sure didn't.  From the previews, I was expecting something awesome
> however,
> > >found the special effects the only good thing about it.  While watching
> it,
> > I
> > >couldn't help but wonder where Harrison Ford was.  In my opinion, they
> > tried to
> > >hard to make this an Indiana Jones kind of movie without a good story
> line.
> > >Even the music was horrible.
> > >
> > >Jason Cormier wrote:
> > >
> > >> Wow!  What a hoot!  If you are looking for some of that slam-bam
> thank
> > you
> > >> mam summer-time action- then you have found it in the Mummy.  Go into
> > this
> > >> movie expecting to see a movie that does NOT take itself too
> seriously.
> > >> Everything here is just for fun.  The action is very fast paced and
> there
> > >> seems to be a new action sequence starting right when the last one is
> > >> finishing up.  There are no lengthy romance sub plots or 'let's learn
> > about
> > >> Egyptian times' sub plots - although both of these things occur - it
> is
> > done
> > >> in between all the action so that it is nice to have a breather once
> in
> a
> > >> while!  A great way to kick off the summer (as opposed to last year's
> > Deep
> > >> Impact or Twister the year before that).  I give it a funky 80%.
> > >>
> > >> btw - Happy Mummy's day.
> > >>
> > >> [ To leave the movies mailing list, send the message "unsubscribe ]
> > >> [ movies" (without the quotes) to [e-mail]          ]
> > >
> > >
> > >[ To leave the movies mailing list, send the message "unsubscribe ]
> > >[ movies" (without the quotes) to [e-mail]          ]
> > >
> >
> >
> > [ To leave the movies mailing list, send the message "unsubscribe ]
> > [ movies" (without the quotes) to [e-mail]          ]
> >
>
>
> [ To leave the movies mailing list, send the message "unsubscribe ]
> [ movies" (without the quotes) to [e-mail]          ]

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------------------------------

Date: Tue, 11 May 1999 10:02:20 -0400
From: Josh Pritchard <[e-mail]>
Subject: RE: [MV] The Mummy review (SPOILERS)

At 08:43 AM 5/11/99 +0100, you wrote:
>I agree with Jason's comments. I loved watching Indy growing up, and have
>lamented a lot of the attempts to copy it for the past 18 years. The Mummy
>steals a lot of this action subgenre cliches, as well as some of those from
>the old adventure serials of the 30s and 40s, and then it does have a weak
>story and some seriously CHEAP dialogue. All these characters somehow felt
>the need to make a corny wisecrack before or after every little action
>sequence. "This just keeps getting better and better." "We are in serious
>trouble."(repeated a few times in the movie) and you have a typical
>swashbuckling American, a klutzy educated female, a comical and shifty
>supporting character in the lead female's brother. You have a secret society
>of egyptians, bumbling yet forcefully brash competing Americans, and so on.
>Sure, you see just how good the Indiana Jones movies really were when
>compared to a movie like this. I don't think it is intended to be scary, and
>it isn't. There were still some funny moments here and there, and laughingly
>groaning at the cheap dialogue made the movie fun. One of my favorite
>throwaway lines was when the lead actress is investigating a noise in the
>museum and as she tip-toes through the room she calls out gently, "Abdul?
>Mohammed? Bob?"  I laughed.
>
>Yeah, the movie is packed with cliches and ripoffs and corny lines, but even
>so I enjoyed it a lot. I don't think the producers were trying to make
>something original; and they probably knew the movie was corny and silly.
>But, it moved at a rapid pace and never really lagged. As Jason said, the
>movie never took itself too seriously, and if you sit back and relax, it is
>easy to enjoy. It's just simple fluffy candy, but it is quite fun. Add
>better dialogue and some original story lines, and this is how
>action-adventure movies should be.
>
>Wade

Just to throw in my own $.02 ...  (And be warned that spoilers follow)

I just saw THE MUMMY last night and I would have to agree with Jason and
Wade.  The movie was rather painful in parts - the digitized background in
the opening sequence were particularly painful, especially when contrasted
with some of the other special effects, ie. Imotep stepping out of the
travelling sandspout - but the overall feel seemed to be that the
directors/producers/actors were purposely making a movie that took shots
and mocked/honored the old 30's and 40's adventure movies.  The perfect
example of this would be the scene where Evie has stolen the book of  Dead ...

"I don't think you should read that"
"Oh, nothing bad comes from reading a book"
*wind almost blows out fire in ominous foreshadowing moment*
"That happens alot around here"

It was a more tongue-in-cheek style but it follows a lot of recent movie
releases - SCREAM, IDLE HANDS - where the characters know the rules of the
type of movie that they are in.  This was similar, but not recognized by
the characters.  The actors and director kept making little winks and nods
to the audience ("rescue the damsel in distress, kill the bad guy and save
the world", "little men like you always get their come-upance") to show
that we were all in on the joke and the style.

For the most part, it was cute ... and horribly, horribly long ... it would
have been much better with about 20 mintues trimmed off.  But on the whole,
a fun movie that did what it set out to do ... mock and tribute a style and
provide 2 hours of brain candy.



Josh Pritchard
Network Administrator, Flashpoint Inc.
[e-mail]

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------------------------------

Date: Tue, 11 May 1999 11:02:11 -0700
From: "Romero, Leticia" <[e-mail]>
Subject: RE: [MV] The Mummy review

Did anyone else see the effect Sam Raimi had on the director?  This guy must
have LOVED Army of Darkness...

> -----Original Message-----
> From:    Wade Snider [SMTP:[e-mail]]
> Sent:    Tuesday, May 11, 1999 12:43 AM
> To:    '[e-mail]'
> Subject:    RE: [MV] The Mummy review
>
> I agree with Jason's comments. I loved watching Indy growing up, and have
> lamented a lot of the attempts to copy it for the past 18 years. The Mummy
> steals a lot of this action subgenre cliches, as well as some of those
> from
> the old adventure serials of the 30s and 40s, and then it does have a weak
> story and some seriously CHEAP dialogue. All these characters somehow felt
> the need to make a corny wisecrack before or after every little action
> sequence. "This just keeps getting better and better." "We are in serious
> trouble."(repeated a few times in the movie) and you have a typical
> swashbuckling American, a klutzy educated female, a comical and shifty
> supporting character in the lead female's brother. You have a secret
> society
> of egyptians, bumbling yet forcefully brash competing Americans, and so
> on.
> Sure, you see just how good the Indiana Jones movies really were when
> compared to a movie like this. I don't think it is intended to be scary,
> and
> it isn't. There were still some funny moments here and there, and
> laughingly
> groaning at the cheap dialogue made the movie fun. One of my favorite
> throwaway lines was when the lead actress is investigating a noise in the
> museum and as she tip-toes through the room she calls out gently, "Abdul?
> Mohammed? Bob?"  I laughed.
>
> Yeah, the movie is packed with cliches and ripoffs and corny lines, but
> even
> so I enjoyed it a lot. I don't think the producers were trying to make
> something original; and they probably knew the movie was corny and silly.
> But, it moved at a rapid pace and never really lagged. As Jason said, the
> movie never took itself too seriously, and if you sit back and relax, it
> is
> easy to enjoy. It's just simple fluffy candy, but it is quite fun. Add
> better dialogue and some original story lines, and this is how
> action-adventure movies should be.
>
> Wade
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From:    Chris Culligan [SMTP:[e-mail]]
> > Sent:    Monday, May 10, 1999 9:03 PM
> > To:    [e-mail]
> > Subject:    Re: [MV] The Mummy review
> >
> > I was disappointed.  It wasn't scary.  Every time it looked like it
> might
> > get scary some one made a stupid wisecrack that lightened the mood.  The
> > effects were good, but that doesn't mean what it did five years ago.  I
> > was
> > expecting a horror film.  Instead I got an Indiana Jones movie with bad
> > timing on the comic elements (Indiana Jones didn't have that problem).
> >
> > CHRIS
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: Jason Cormier <[e-mail]>
> > To: <[e-mail]>
> > Sent: Monday, May 10, 1999 2:52 AM
> > Subject: Re: [MV] The Mummy review
> >
> >
> > > Yeah - I hear ya!  You won't find I bigger Indy fan around other than
> me
> > -
> > I
> > > am honestly wearing an Indiana Jones T-Shirt right now.  So I was
> hoping
> > it
> > > wouldn't disgust me with all the rip offs.  However - right away we
> see
> > that
> > > the movie isn't taking itself too seriously (with the female lead
> > balancing
> > > on the ladder and knocking over all the books - pretty stupid but it
> set
> > the
> > > tone).  If it played out like Stargate did - which was very serious -
> > then
> > > it falls flat (imho) and it becomes easy to pick out all the bad
> > components
> > > of the film.  I was lucky that I was in the right mood and I enjoyed
> the
> > > ride though I understand where you're coming from.  I often dislike
> > movies
> > > that the general poplace enjoys (take Stargate or Independence Day for
> > > examples!)
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: kwhite <[e-mail]>
> > > To: [e-mail] <[e-mail]>
> > > Date: Sunday, May 09, 1999 12:28 PM
> > > Subject: Re: [MV] The Mummy review
> > >
> > >
> > > >Jason,
> > > >
> > > >I went to see this with some friends last night.  I'm glad you liked
> > it.
> > > We
> > > >sure didn't.  From the previews, I was expecting something awesome
> > however,
> > > >found the special effects the only good thing about it.  While
> watching
> > it,
> > > I
> > > >couldn't help but wonder where Harrison Ford was.  In my opinion,
> they
> > > tried to
> > > >hard to make this an Indiana Jones kind of movie without a good story
> > line.
> > > >Even the music was horrible.
> > > >
> > > >Jason Cormier wrote:
> > > >
> > > >> Wow!  What a hoot!  If you are looking for some of that slam-bam
> > thank
> > > you
> > > >> mam summer-time action- then you have found it in the Mummy.  Go
> into
> > > this
> > > >> movie expecting to see a movie that does NOT take itself too
> > seriously.
> > > >> Everything here is just for fun.  The action is very fast paced and
> > there
> > > >> seems to be a new action sequence starting right when the last one
> is
> > > >> finishing up.  There are no lengthy romance sub plots or 'let's
> learn
> > > about
> > > >> Egyptian times' sub plots - although both of these things occur -
> it
> > is
> > > done
> > > >> in between all the action so that it is nice to have a breather
> once
> > in
> > a
> > > >> while!  A great way to kick off the summer (as opposed to last
> year's
> > > Deep
> > > >> Impact or Twister the year before that).  I give it a funky 80%.
> > > >>
> > > >> btw - Happy Mummy's day.
> > > >>
> > > >> [ To leave the movies mailing list, send the message "unsubscribe ]
> > > >> [ movies" (without the quotes) to [e-mail]          ]
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >[ To leave the movies mailing list, send the message "unsubscribe ]
> > > >[ movies" (without the quotes) to [e-mail]          ]
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > > [ To leave the movies mailing list, send the message "unsubscribe ]
> > > [ movies" (without the quotes) to [e-mail]          ]
> > >
> >
> >
> > [ To leave the movies mailing list, send the message "unsubscribe ]
> > [ movies" (without the quotes) to [e-mail]          ]
>
> [ To leave the movies mailing list, send the message "unsubscribe ]
> [ movies" (without the quotes) to [e-mail]          ]

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------------------------------

Date: Tue, 11 May 1999 13:25:08 -0600
From: "The Reporter" <[e-mail]>
Subject: [MV] Movie News - 05/11/99

LOS ANGELES (AP) - "The Mummy" burst into North American theaters
with a record $43.4 million box office take, the largest non-summer
opening in movie history and ninth among the top 10 all-time opening
weekends. The success of the Universal Pictures remake of the 1932
Boris Karloff classic even caught studio executives by surprise.
Universal Studios president Ron Meyer had expected something around
$30 million. Starring Brendan Fraser and packed with special effects,
"The Mummy" opening was Universal's third biggest after "The Lost
World: Jurrasic Park" ($90.2 million) and "Jurassic Park" ($47
million).


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[ movies" (without the quotes) to [e-mail]          ]

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 12 May 1999 01:45:17 -0700
From: "Jason Cormier" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: [MV] The Mummy review & Sam Raimi

No kidding eh!  Luckily I am a huge fan of Raimi - from his Evil Dead days
to The Quick and the Dead to Darkman and finally to A Simple Plan - all of
them were great fun.  e has fun with his camera which is usually refreshing
to watch!  I alwas look forward to his movies - although his next one seems
like a sell out - Kevin Costner - for the love of the game...urghhh

- -----Original Message-----
From: Romero, Leticia <[e-mail]>
To: '[e-mail]' <[e-mail]>
Date: Tuesday, May 11, 1999 11:04 AM
Subject: RE: [MV] The Mummy review


>Did anyone else see the effect Sam Raimi had on the director?  This guy
must
>have LOVED Army of Darkness...
>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Wade Snider [SMTP:[e-mail]]
>> Sent: Tuesday, May 11, 1999 12:43 AM
>> To: '[e-mail]'
>> Subject: RE: [MV] The Mummy review
>>
>> I agree with Jason's comments. I loved watching Indy growing up, and have
>> lamented a lot of the attempts to copy it for the past 18 years. The
Mummy
>> steals a lot of this action subgenre cliches, as well as some of those
>> from
>> the old adventure serials of the 30s and 40s, and then it does have a
weak
>> story and some seriously CHEAP dialogue. All these characters somehow
felt
>> the need to make a corny wisecrack before or after every little action
>> sequence. "This just keeps getting better and better." "We are in serious
>> trouble."(repeated a few times in the movie) and you have a typical
>> swashbuckling American, a klutzy educated female, a comical and shifty
>> supporting character in the lead female's brother. You have a secret
>> society
>> of egyptians, bumbling yet forcefully brash competing Americans, and so
>> on.
>> Sure, you see just how good the Indiana Jones movies really were when
>> compared to a movie like this. I don't think it is intended to be scary,
>> and
>> it isn't. There were still some funny moments here and there, and
>> laughingly
>> groaning at the cheap dialogue made the movie fun. One of my favorite
>> throwaway lines was when the lead actress is investigating a noise in the
>> museum and as she tip-toes through the room she calls out gently, "Abdul?
>> Mohammed? Bob?"  I laughed.
>>
>> Yeah, the movie is packed with cliches and ripoffs and corny lines, but
>> even
>> so I enjoyed it a lot. I don't think the producers were trying to make
>> something original; and they probably knew the movie was corny and silly.
>> But, it moved at a rapid pace and never really lagged. As Jason said, the
>> movie never took itself too seriously, and if you sit back and relax, it
>> is
>> easy to enjoy. It's just simple fluffy candy, but it is quite fun. Add
>> better dialogue and some original story lines, and this is how
>> action-adventure movies should be.
>>
>> Wade
>>
>> > -----Original Message-----
>> > From: Chris Culligan [SMTP:[e-mail]]
>> > Sent: Monday, May 10, 1999 9:03 PM
>> > To: [e-mail]
>> > Subject: Re: [MV] The Mummy review
>> >
>> > I was disappointed.  It wasn't scary.  Every time it looked like it
>> might
>> > get scary some one made a stupid wisecrack that lightened the mood.
The
>> > effects were good, but that doesn't mean what it did five years ago.  I
>> > was
>> > expecting a horror film.  Instead I got an Indiana Jones movie with bad
>> > timing on the comic elements (Indiana Jones didn't have that problem).
>> >
>> > CHRIS
>> >
>> > ----- Original Message -----
>> > From: Jason Cormier <[e-mail]>
>> > To: <[e-mail]>
>> > Sent: Monday, May 10, 1999 2:52 AM
>> > Subject: Re: [MV] The Mummy review
>> >
>> >
>> > > Yeah - I hear ya!  You won't find I bigger Indy fan around other than
>> me
>> > -
>> > I
>> > > am honestly wearing an Indiana Jones T-Shirt right now.  So I was
>> hoping
>> > it
>> > > wouldn't disgust me with all the rip offs.  However - right away we
>> see
>> > that
>> > > the movie isn't taking itself too seriously (with the female lead
>> > balancing
>> > > on the ladder and knocking over all the books - pretty stupid but it
>> set
>> > the
>> > > tone).  If it played out like Stargate did - which was very serious -
>> > then
>> > > it falls flat (imho) and it becomes easy to pick out all the bad
>> > components
>> > > of the film.  I was lucky that I was in the right mood and I enjoyed
>> the
>> > > ride though I understand where you're coming from.  I often dislike
>> > movies
>> > > that the general poplace enjoys (take Stargate or Independence Day
for
>> > > examples!)
>> > >
>> > > -----Original Message-----
>> > > From: kwhite <[e-mail]>
>> > > To: [e-mail] <[e-mail]>
>> > > Date: Sunday, May 09, 1999 12:28 PM
>> > > Subject: Re: [MV] The Mummy review
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > >Jason,
>> > > >
>> > > >I went to see this with some friends last night.  I'm glad you liked
>> > it.
>> > > We
>> > > >sure didn't.  From the previews, I was expecting something awesome
>> > however,
>> > > >found the special effects the only good thing about it.  While
>> watching
>> > it,
>> > > I
>> > > >couldn't help but wonder where Harrison Ford was.  In my opinion,
>> they
>> > > tried to
>> > > >hard to make this an Indiana Jones kind of movie without a good
story
>> > line.
>> > > >Even the music was horrible.
>> > > >
>> > > >Jason Cormier wrote:
>> > > >
>> > > >> Wow!  What a hoot!  If you are looking for some of that slam-bam
>> > thank
>> > > you
>> > > >> mam summer-time action- then you have found it in the Mummy.  Go
>> into
>> > > this
>> > > >> movie expecting to see a movie that does NOT take itself too
>> > seriously.
>> > > >> Everything here is just for fun.  The action is very fast paced
and
>> > there
>> > > >> seems to be a new action sequence starting right when the last one
>> is
>> > > >> finishing up.  There are no lengthy romance sub plots or 'let's
>> learn
>> > > about
>> > > >> Egyptian times' sub plots - although both of these things occur -
>> it
>> > is
>> > > done
>> > > >> in between all the action so that it is nice to have a breather
>> once
>> > in
>> > a
>> > > >> while!  A great way to kick off the summer (as opposed to last
>> year's
>> > > Deep
>> > > >> Impact or Twister the year before that).  I give it a funky 80%.
>> > > >>
>> > > >> btw - Happy Mummy's day.
>> > > >>
>> > > >> [ To leave the movies mailing list, send the message
"unsubscribe ]
>> > > >> [ movies" (without the quotes) to
@xmission.com          ]
>> > > >
>> > > >
>> > > >[ To leave the movies mailing list, send the message "unsubscribe ]
>> > > >[ movies" (without the quotes) to [e-mail]          ]
>> > > >
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > [ To leave the movies mailing list, send the message "unsubscribe ]
>> > > [ movies" (without the quotes) to [e-mail]          ]
>> > >
>> >
>> >
>> > [ To leave the movies mailing list, send the message "unsubscribe ]
>> > [ movies" (without the quotes) to [e-mail]          ]
>>
>> [ To leave the movies mailing list, send the message "unsubscribe ]
>> [ movies" (without the quotes) to [e-mail]          ]
>
>[ To leave the movies mailing list, send the message "unsubscribe ]
>[ movies" (without the quotes) to [e-mail]          ]
>


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------------------------------

Date: Wed, 12 May 1999 01:55:50 -0700
From: "Jason Cormier" <[e-mail]>
Subject: [MV] Election review

Read this review!

Good comedies are very rare.  When I say good I mean comedies that give us
more than just physical prat falls and bodily fluid references.  Election,
like it's high school comedy predecessor Rushmore, is one of those good
comedies.  Intricate characters and relationships, great comic timing fromt
he actors, coherent plot, wacky musical score and a funny, funny script!
This is not a movie for teenagers - it is definitely a movie for everyone
who has ever been to high school!  Reese Withspoon is fantastic as is all
the other actors in this movie who seem to play against type when needed
though some played as a parody of a stereotype which worked well too!  For a
cheesey finale I will say that "I vote for Election" as the funniest movie
of the year!  An hilarious 92%.


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------------------------------

Date: Wed, 12 May 1999 10:23:18 -0600
From: "Gregory A. Swarthout" <[e-mail]>
Subject: [MV] Star Wars, Episode 1 (First Impressions)

Press screening was last night.  The film is somewhere around "Return
of the Jedi" in terms of quality and appeal.  A lesser effort, but
still great fun.  Anakin Skywalker is given far too much screen time,
an obvious attempt to appeal to a young audience.  The pod race sequence
wasn't as exciting as it should have been, and there was this funky
medical explanation for why The Force is stronger is some rather than
others.  Darth Maul didn't have much of a personality and so wasn't a
very compelling villain.  Still, in all, the movie was a good time with
some pretty cool effects.  Don't have your expectations set too high
and you won't be disappointed.  I wasn't.

Greg


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------------------------------

Date: Wed, 12 May 1999 10:27:29 -0600 (MDT)
From: Scott Renshaw <[e-mail]>
Subject: [MV] REVIEW: WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE'S A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE'S A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM
(Fox Searchlight)
Starring:  Kevin Kline, Michelle Pfeiffer, Rupert Everett, Stanley Tucci,
Calista Flockhart, Anna Friel, Christian Bale, Dominic West, David
Strathairn, Sophie Marceau.
Screenplay:  Michael Hoffman, based on the play by William Shakespeare.
Producers:  Leslie Urdang and Michael Hoffman.
Director:  Michael Hoffman.
MPAA Rating:  PG-13 (adult themes, brief nudity)
Running Time:  115 minutes.
Reviewed by Scott Renshaw.

     The cinematic cynic in me suspects that the lofty, unwieldy title of
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE'S A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM has as much to do with
timely marketing as it does with a nod to literary fidelity.  After all,
when adults are flocking to the Oscar-winning SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE and
teens are catching "The Taming of the Shrew" turned into 10 THINGS I HATE
ABOUT YOU, the Bard would seem to be riding a unique wave of
cross-demographic hipness.  Then again, Shakespeare has always been
pitched both at the gallery and at the groundlings, mixing the matters of
kings with the matters of clowns.  To that extent, this MIDSUMMER NIGHT is
truly William Shakespeare's in its mix of disparate elements, with all the
delights and potential pitfalls that accompany them.

     Writer/director Michael Hoffman transports the tale from Greece to
19th century Tuscany, where many plotlines swirl around the impending
wedding of Duke Theseus (David Strathairn) and Hippolyta (Sophie Marceau).
Hermia (Anna Friel), the daughter of one of Theseus' courtiers, is
forcefully engaged to marry Demetrius (Christian Bale), but Hermia instead
shares a love with Lysander (Dominic West).  Demetrius, meanwhile, is the
object of affection of Hermia's childhood friend Helena (Calista
Flockhart).  Another thread finds a group of amateur actors, led by the
weaver Nick Bottom (Kevin Kline), preparing a play to be performed for the
Duke's wedding, perhaps to receive an award if it is well-liked.  The
paths of these characters all cross in the nearby forest, where
complications ensue as the machinations of the Fairy King Oberon (Rupert
Everett) and his mischievous servant Puck (Stanley Tucci) -- aided by a
little love potion -- cause every romantic entaglement to become further
entangled.

     At its most basic level, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM is a precursor to
bedroom farce without the slamming doors (doors being hard to come by in
the forest).  As the enchanted lovers become a circle of frustration --
Lysander is made to love Helena, who still loves Demetrius, who still
loves Hermia, who still loves Lysander -- saucy exchanges alternate with
good old-fashioned female mud wrestling.  It takes more than a little
while for the film to find its pacing, hindered by the atypically awkward
work of Strathairn, but once the pleasantly low-tech, stage-set world of
the forest becomes the focus, the high and low comedy both begin working.
The one major hindrance may be the clash of acting styles:  while Bale,
Friel and West go for pure Royal Shakespeare, Flockhart plays Helena as a
neurotic mess fretting over her appearance a la Ally McBeal.  It's an
interesting interpretation, but one that doesn't always mesh with the
other players.

     The other major sub-plot becomes both A MIDSUMMER NIGHT DREAM's high
point and its source of greatest disappointment.  Kevin Kline, turning in
one of his better performances, plays Nick Bottom as a wonderfully
tragi-comic sadsack, an unhappily married laborer with grand dreams of how
the stage will offer him a chance at greatness.  When he is simultaneously
transformed into an ass and into the object of desire of the love
potion-affected Fairy Queen Titania (Michelle Pfeiffer), it's touching to
note how his moment of glory makes him oblivious to his physical state.
Unfortunately, Hoffman doesn't exploit Kline's performance for all it can
offer, never really delivering a satisfying resolution to the character he
has set up.

     He does, however, build to a wonderfully comic climax as the actors
finally perform their play within the play.  The bumbling performance is
pure slapstick -- malapropped lines, misaligned props, over-the-top acting
and, to quote SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE, a bit with a dog.  The one nice twist
comes as Flute (Sam Rockwell), the actor-in-drag performing the ingenue
in the play, breaks from character to deliver an earnest paean to true
love.  It's a sweet note on which to end a play of sometimes discordant
tones, perhaps making this DREAM seem less uneven that it should.  The
course of this tale about the course of true love never does run smooth;
it merely offers a fanciful comedy deserving enough of the author's name.

     On the Renshaw scale of 0 to 10 enchanted forests:  7.

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