2002 Movie Reviews

I like to watch movies! Cinema—whether film, video, or newer digital technologies—are not simply techniques, but more broadly, the defining elements of our culture and society. The basic features of cinema are a medium, which enable it to be used creatively, and I like to study the rich artistic potential of film.

The following is a series of capsule reviews of movies that I have seen in megaplex theaters in 2002.

The synopsis comments are taken from http://www.hollywood.com/. Most of the sardonic observations are mine, as are the letter grades.

My Big Fat Greek Wedding My favorite movie of the summer season!!! Delightful, funny, engaging story showing that love conquers all, and that you can find happiness despite your family's meddling. Grade A+
A Beautiful Mind This film won a well-deserved Academy Award for Best Picture. It's a memorable expedition from sanity to insanity and back again. Grade A
Gosford Park I loved this 1930s British period piece that centers on class struggles among the residents and guests of an English country estate as well as within the world of their trusted servants. Grade A
In the Bedroom A happy, middle-aged couple's marriage and life come apart when his older, almost-divorced lover’s abusive spouse kills their son. Superb Acting by Tom Wilkinson and Sissy Spacek. Grade A
The Rookie This feel-good movie, based on a true story, is an inspiring tale about an average guy, chasing an above average dream. The movie made me feel so good that I gave it a Grade A
The Importance of Being Earnest shows a full measure of Oscar Wilde's legendary wit, and embodies more than any of his other plays, his decency and warmth. I enjoyed this screen version of one of the most enduring and perhaps the most popular of Wilde's social satires. Grade A-
The Shipping News A man, beaten and eroded by the forces of life, goes to live at the old family homestead in Newfoundland, itself beaten and eroded by the forces of nature, to find his inner strength. Grade A-
Iris Follows the 40-year relationship between literary critic John Bayley and his wife, British author and lecturer Iris Murdoch. This is a noteworthy film. Grade A
Spider-Man Based on the comic book super-hero, student Peter Parker gains superhuman strength and the spider-like ability to cling to any surface after being bitten by agenetically-altered spider. Grade A-
The Emperor's New Clothes One of the most clever, most enjoyable historical fantasies to hit screens in a long time. Grade A-
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone The pleasant adaptation of J. K. Rowling's Best Seller children's book about the fantastic and magical adventures of a boy whose life is changed forever when he finds out he's a wizard. Grade A
Into the Deep (Imax) Not only was this 3-D movie full of information, but also it was extremely interesting! I felt like I was in the water with the divers. Grade A
Mysteries of Egypt (Imax) Omar Shariff is the narrator and stars as the "tour-guide" to a young girl who wants to learn about the "Mysteries of Egypt". The film explores the reign of ancient pharaoh's and explains how the pyramids were built. The scenery in the film is spectacular, from the beautiful Nile River to the deserts of Egypt. Grade A
Beauty and the Beast (Imax) A Disney re-released "Special Edition" film attains a nearly perfect mix of romance, music, invention, and animation. Grade A-
Yellowstone (Imax) This film by Keith Merrill features Yellowstone Park as the earliest white explorers saw it. The movie dramatizes the incredible beauty of walking through Yellowstone in 1807. Grade A-
Ocean Oasis (Imax) This perscrutation of aquatic life in the Sea of Cortez off the shores of the Baja California peninsula of Mexico offers an engrossing way to demonstrate the virtues of the IMAX format. Grade A-
Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood The Ya Ya Sisterhood is a quartet of friends, Vivi, Teensy ,Caro, and Necie that have supported each other since childhood. The three Ya Yas decided to take things into their own hands to mend a mother-daughter rift by kidnapping Sidda and telling her the story she never knew about her mother. Sounds Ridiculous, but the film was really quite good. Grade A-
Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones The latest installment of the George Lucas-created mythology. Grade A-
Windtalkers Grim, brutal action scenes dominate this exciting war movie taken from a little-known piece of history: the fact that the U.S. Marine's only really uncrackable code during World War II -- and one of the main reasons they were able to beat the Japanese -- was derived from the Navajo language and used by a secret group of 29 Navajo soldiers. Adam Beach and Nicolas Cage are fantastic in their respective roles. Grade A-
Sunshine State On an island off the northeastern coast of Florida, the lives of two local women are changed as Sunshine State delves into their family history, their dreams and their frustrations. Grade A-
The Singles Ward This is an engaging film, which aims itself squarely at the LDS audience, and is about a young Mormon who struggles with his new lifestyle after his divorce. Grade A-
The Other Side of Heaven The real-life account of the experiences of LDS (Mormon) General Authority John H. Groberg when he was a teenager serving a church mission to the Kingdom of Tonga. The film is a combination of religion, love story and exotic locales. Grade A-
Kate and Leopold A modern-day ad-executive falls in love with a charming 19th century bachelor after he magically lands in present-day New York. Grade B-
Ocean’s 11 For all its gloss and marquee power, this remake of the 1960 Classic, feels calculated, tedious, boring and drags a bit. Grade C+
The Royal Tenenbaums Black comedy has never been darker than in The Royal Tenenbaums, about a screwed-up family of eccentric geniuses who reluctantly reunites years after splitting up. Grade D
The Majestic An aspiring screenwriter blacklisted in the 1950s gets a chance at a new life without knowing it after a car accident leaves him with amnesia, but the often-present monomaniac liberal political bias ruins the show. Grade C-
Lord of the Rings With over 100 million copies sold in over 40 languages, millions have grown up with the classic epic tale, “The Lord of the Rings,” by JRR Tolkien, fans of the book are sure to be pleased with the film. Grade A-
Black Hawk Down The true story of an elite group of U.S. soldiers whose peacekeeping mission to Somalia turns deadly when hostile civilians mount an unexpected attack. Grade B+
The Count of Monte Cristo One of the greatest stories of all time, based on the book by Alexandre Dumas tells the tale of young Edmond Dantes, who, falsely accused of treason and arrested on his wedding day, escapes from prison to seek revenge on his enemies. Grade B+
A Walk to Remember A good story that focuses on a reckless high school teenager who falls for the daughter of the town's Baptist minister. Grade B-
Big Fat Liar This is the story of a junior high student whose school essay accidentally ends up in the hands of a greedy Hollywood producer. The perfunctory acting of Frankie Muniz is very distracting. Grade C-
Snow Dogs In a classic fish-out-of-water story, a Miami dentist learns he's been adopted after he inherits his birth mother's Alaskan dog sled team. He ventures into the Great White North to find out about where--and who--he really came from and ends up getting a little more than he bargains for. Grade C+
Hart’s War Tommy Hart is a law student before he enlists in WWII. During combat he is shot down over Europe and placed in a POW camp. When a black prisoner is accused of murdering a fellow soldier, Hart comes to his aid and defends him in the courtroom. The litigation transfixes the Germans and works in favor of the American POWs, who use the case as a diversion to help them escape. Grade C+
Crossroads This Britney Spears vehicle revolves around three childhood friends who rediscover their friendship on a cross-country trip. Grade C-
Collateral Damage Arnold Schwarzenegger plays a Los Angeles firefighter who gets involved in international terrorism after witnessing his family being killed by a Colombian terrorist bomb. And he doesn't just get mad--he gets even. Grade C+
Dragonfly A doctor has a difficult time getting over his wife's untimely death--and comes to believe she is trying to reach him from the beyond to send him on an important mission. Neither spooky nor otherworldly, it just drags. Grade D-
We Were Soldiers Hollywood usually vilifies Lyndon Johnson’s War, but this film seemed sympathetic, as it follows a band of American soldiers into one of the bloodiest battles of the Vietnam War. Grade B-

Insomnia This movie is smart and well crafted, and it boasts complex characters, and evocative photography of a small Alaskan town in summertime, when the sun never sets. It's a solid Hollywood thriller. Grade B-
Like Mike 14-year-old orphan Calvin Cambridge, dreams of being a professional basketball player. When he dons a pair of old sneakers with the faded initials "M.J." inscribed inside them, he displays amazing hoop skills that catch the attention of the NBA. Bottom line, this is a nice family film. Grade B-
Lovely & Amazing A woman and her two daughters deal with insecurities about their appearance, weight and careers. An intriguing character study. Grade B+
Minority Report Not Steven Spielberg’s fertile imagination nor Tom Cruise’s star power could save this film featuring the summer’s worst script, though the special effects were exceptional. Grade C+
Road To Perdition It is hard to understand the big fuss made by Critics over this film about a 1930s hit man who finds himself the target of his own mob and, after his family is murdered, sets out on a bloody road to revenge. Grade B-
Scooby-Doo The film is based on the Hanna-Barbera characters that first hit TV screens in 1969. The 2002 movie update features slapstick jokes, shameless flatulence humor, and a plausible explanation for some uncanny spooky phenomena. Grade C-
The Sum of All Fears This is the fourth film version of Tom Clancy's popular series about thinking man CIA agent Jack Ryan. Grade C-
K-19: The Widowmaker Two Soviet naval captains are aboard a nuclear submarine in 1961, when a nuclear reactor accident turns the mission into a hell and the K-19 into a moral battleground, sending the world perilously close to Armageddon. Grade B-
Mr. Deeds This updated version of the Frank Capra film lacks almost everything that made the 1936 movie an enduring classic: idealism, heart, social and political savvy, convincing romanticism, robust ensemble acting and humor. Grade C
Reign of Fire Another apocalyptic vision of a world where few survive, and life is much harder than it is now. What happens is that dragons are awakened from an underground lair where they've been dormant and confined for centuries, and when an excavator and her son are the first to find the dragons, it's safe to say, all hell breaks loose. Grade B-
The Bourne Identity There’s a sense of I’ve seen-it-all before in this film, and very few surprises or twists end up happening in the movie despite all the car chases, explosions and intrigue. But I loved the action, and thought Matt Damon pulled it off playing a spy. Grade B+
Orange County A zany, diverting comedy that tempers low-brow slapstick with gentle humor and a few poignant insights." Grade C-

The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course while trying to relocate a troublesome croc, Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin and wife Terri become embroiled in spy games in the Outback. Grade C+
Y Tu Mama Tambien With enough male and female nudity to qualify as softcore porn--but deserving none of the stigma attached to that label--this is a witty, poignant, and politically astute coming-of-age tale, and indeed the most daring mainstream film ever made in Mexico. Grade B-
Undercover Brother Not even Bond Girl Denise Richards, can save this dreadful, tasteless dry rot, which is neither funny nor sexy-cool. Indeed, it's mean-spirited and, frankly, a little racist. Grade F
The Sweetest Thing Despite its talented cast, The Sweetest Thing is not the least bit funny or romantic. It dares to be different but fails miserably. I was bored out of my mind during the film. Grade F
Enough Five years into her marriage, J.Lo’s character’s dream husband turns abusive. The fact is that once you’ve seen the trailer, you basically know how the entire film will unfold. Grade C
Harrison's Flowers A woman searches for her husband, a photojournalist for Newseek magazine, after he disappears in the former Yugoslavia during Croatia's war of secession against Serb rebels backed by the Yugoslav army. The film paints a gritty and realistic portrait of what happened in southeastern Europe in 1991. Grade C+
The Time Machine A dreamer obsessed with traveling through time builds himself a time machine and, much to his surprise, travels over 800,000 years into the future. The world has been transformed with a society living in apparent harmony and bliss, but as the Traveler stays in this world of the future he discovers a hidden barbaric and depraved subterranean class. Grade C+
Crush This film focuses on three women often bashing men and lamenting about their love lives. Grade C+
About A Boy A rich, childfree and irresponsible Londoner reluctantly befriends a 12-year-old boy and they end up changing each other's lives. Grade B-
Life or Something Like It A perky and popular Seattle television reporter believes she has only a week to live and radically changes her life in the time she has left. Grade C+
Ice Age The all-digital feature cartoon "Ice Age” is a movie that is lots of fun. It’s fast, witty, full of zingy gags and jaw-dropping imagery of vast glaciers and endless landscapes and snowscapes. Grade B+

Showtime A no-nonsense veteran police detective gets blackmailed by a floundering television network into starring in a reality-TV cop show. Chaos ensues when he's joined by a hungry actor/beat cop who proceeds to annoy the hell out of him. Cameras rolling, they bicker, bond and eventually solve the crime. Grade B-
Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron Spirit is a traditional animation film about a wild mustang stallion, gets caught by U.S. cavalrymen and refuses to be broken Grade C+
40 Days and 40 Nights The lead character in the movie Matt, is going to give up sex for Lent. That's the tasteless premise of "40 Days and 40 Nights," a one-joke comedy that runs out of ideas long before it runs out of celluloid. Grade C-

13 Conversations About One Thing A group of people living separate lives are unaware of their subtle interconnections. The mix includes a cocky attorney who becomes a fugitive following a hit-and-run incident and a math professor whose wife is the victim of a mugging. Each person, caught up in the pressure of his or her own life, ends up asking the same, fundamental question: how is happiness obtained? Grade B+
Bad Company A veteran CIA agent must transform a sarcastic, street-wise guy into a sophisticated and savvy spy to replace his murdered identical twin brother--in only nine days. Grade B-
Big Trouble This madcap comedy follows the adventures of several Miami residents--and a few out-of-towners--as they try to track down a suitcase with questionable contents. Grade C+

Changing Lanes A rush-hour fender bender on a crowded New York City street sets off a chain reaction that could destroy two people's lives: a high-powered attorney and a father who stands to lose his children. Grade B+
The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys A sensitive and realistic portrayal of teens growing up during the '70s, focusing on the inner life of two Catholic school teenagers. The film also offers laughs and insight into one of the toughest ages a kid can go through. Grade B-
Clockstoppers I really enjoyed this film about a teenager who inadvertently stumbles upon a wristwatch that allows him--and anyone touching him--to move in "hypertime," a highly accelerated speed that makes everything around him appear frozen in time. Grade B
High Crimes When a criminal lawyer must defend her husband in a military court for crimes he may or may not have committed, she ends up risking not only her career, but her life as well, in her quest to find the truth. Grade B
Hollywood Ending So as not to lose the opportunity of a lifetime, a once big-time filmmaker (Woody Allen) keeps his blindness a secret from studio honchos and directs a movie with a little help from his friends. Grade B-
Kissing Jessica Stein After years of bad relationships with men, a guarded journalist and an outspoken museum curator decide to give lesbianism a try and start a relationship. It's a romantic comedy that mixes friendship with romantic love. Grade B+
Enigma A brilliant, but troubled, World War II code breaker is called in to help an Allied convoy in danger by cracking a German code, and he also attempts to track down his ex-girlfriend, a suspected traitor, with help from her roommate. Grade B-
Joe Somebody In this serviceable comedy, an everyday guy gets a chance to make a name for himself by fighting the office bully and realizes being popular isn't all that its cracked up to be. Grade C+
Full Frontal Shot in just 18 days with “over the counter” videotape, this flick looks into the lives of seven people, who have nothing in common, but whose destinies collide in an insufferable ball of pseudo-philosophic twaddle. Grade D+
Signs When an intricate pattern of circles and lines appears in a Pennsylvania cornfield, a farmer and his family unfold a mystery that will forever change their lives. Grade C+
Cherish A young woman confined to house arrest after falsely becoming implicated in the death of a cop manages to escape and capture the real culprit. Grade B
Who is Cletis Tout? Most critics hated this whimsical tale in which an escaped convict assumes the identity of a deceased man, Cletis Tout, only to discover Tout is targeted for assassination by the mob. The film won't change anybody's life, but it's a respectable Grade B- movie.
The Master of Disguise should have toned down its already clean dialogue and dropped the irritating flatulence humor, in order to get a G rating because it is doubtful anyone over the age of 8 will enjoy it. Grade D+
Late Marriage An Israeli romantic drama about a 31-year-old man pushed towards marriage by his demanding family. The film features a sex scene, which is a protracted encounter, and probably the most realistic ever depicted on film — utterly devoid of the flowery contrivances of more romantic films. Grade B\
Blood Work Clint Eastwood is a sort of geriatric Dirty Harry, playing a retired FBI profiler who is sucked back into service when he discovers the key to tracking a ruthless serial killer involves his recent heart transplant. Grade B

xXx For all its posturing, XXX essentially is a James Bond movie refitted for the “Extreme Generation.” Grade C+
Spy Kids 2: Island of Lost Dreams Even though it's not nearly as engaging as the original, and with special effects that leave much to the imagination, Spy Kids 2 still has enough fun-filled action for the kids to enjoy. Grade C+
Little Secrets A sweet, laetificant, and earnest respite from the louder, crasser fare aimed at kids these days. One can hardly argue with the desire to see a wholesome movie for families that extols honesty and decency. Grade A-
Tadpole is a film that generates plenty of smiles and a few laughs, about a precocious New York prep school student hot for his step mom, and presented with a bit of wit and taste. Grade C+
Serving Sara A socialite is stunned when her rich husband serves her with divorce papers, so she strikes up a deal with her process server in a bid to retain her half of the fortune. This film is almost painful to watch, with its stale tricks, and standard jokes. Grade D+
Possession A double tale of a romance between two modern English literary researchers who fall in love while uncovering a similar affair between two great 19th-century British poets. Grade A-
The Good Girl This Redneck “soap opera” is quite possibly the best-written, best-acted film of the summer; as it explores depression, dissatisfaction, infidelity and relationships without tacking on a standard Hollywood ending. Grade B

Warm Water Under a Red Bridge This allegorical tale follows an unemployed office worker to a small fishing village near Kyoto, in search of a stolen Buddha statue a friend claims is hidden in a seaside house there. What he encounters is a pack of colorful characters. This odd film is both philosophical, and visually striking. (In subtitles) Grade C+
Ultimate X (Imax) Giant screen coverage of the 2001 Summer X Games in Philadelphia; showcasing skateboarding, BMX biking, Moto X and Street Luge competitions. Grade A
Dolphins (Imax) Gives the audience a fascinating new perspective on the lives of dolphins and their remarkable intelligence. Grade A
Space Station (Imax) This film is shot in 3-D, and is the first IMAX film made in space by astronauts. The documentary transports audiences 220 miles above Earth, where scientists from 16 countries work to create the International Space Station. Grade A
Hidden Hawaii (Imax) This captivating presentation takes the audience on a journey to the most remote locations on the Hawaiian Islands. Grade A
My Wife Is an Actress A struggling sports writer whose wife is a successful actress, starts feeling jealous when she gets a new role. However, the male lead’s abrasive obnoxiousness undermines the film's generally light tone, and seriously deflects sympathy away from his character's dilemma. (In subtitles). Grade C-
The Four Feathers This frippery remake of the 1939 Classic is a confusing and unnecessary melodrama, with drawn-out speeches and romantic dribble. Harry Faversham, is a Lieutenant in the British Army whose regiment is about to be sent to Egypt to fight in the Sudan, but he elects to resign his commission on the eve of their sailing for Egypt. This is viewed as an act of cowardice by his three closest friends and by his fiancé, who send him white feathers in contempt. Harry travels to the Sudan to redeem himself. Grade C+
The Banger Sisters This film is sort of a Pygmalion in reverse, where an aging Hippie with disturbing personal failings, attempts to transform a childhood friend from a useful productive citizen, into an empty and shallow hedonist. Grade C+
Barbershop A day in the life of a Southside Chicago barbershop, profiling a fool's paradise, where barbers wax poetic in superficial notions, toward their strikingly unconventional patrons. Very dull in spots. Grade C-
Sweet Home Alabama Reese Witherspoon plays an up-and-coming New York fashion designer engaged to the mayor's son, who was raised in backwoods Alabama, and is still married to her husband. Plenty off redneck-versus-blueblood clichés. Grade C+
Tuck Everlasting This simple delightful film is aimed at adolescent girls, but still has gorgeous natural scenery, and deals with issues of family secrets, togetherness, living life in its fullness, the advantages of wealth, conventional society and love. Grade B-
Mostly Martha An emotionally detached and morose head chef at a restaurant in Germany takes the initiative toward a pithy attachment, after her orphaned niece, and an engaging Italian chef come into her life. (In subtitles). Grade A.
Punch-Drunk Love This black comedy features a social misfit who sells designer toilet plungers, buys pudding to accumulate frequent-flyer miles, tangles with a crooked phone-sex service, and falls in love with a girl. Grade C
Igby Goes Down Igby is a rebellious “rebel without a clue,” born into a world of “old money” privilege, in yet another angry teen movie, utterly without any redeeming value whatsoever. Grade C-
White Oleander A betise, yet entertaining, coming-of-age “chick flick,” about the formidable journey of a sensitive young girl through a series of dysfunctional foster homes and a fierce struggle to pull free from her dangerous and domineering mother. Grade B-
The Santa Clause 2 By three minutes into the film I was so caught up in its genuine, unsentimental Christmas magic that I forgot to be disparaging. Grade A-
Ghost Ship A movie so moronic that it doesn't even deserve to go straight to video, about marine salvagers who luck into the biggest job of their lives, except of course the deserted ship is haunted. Grade D-
Men In Black II The MIB agents are back in action. This time they have to stop an alien disguised as a beautiful underwear model from destroying the Earth. Grade C-
Far From Heaven A 1950s housewife with a seemingly perfect life sees her orderly world slowly crumble when her husband goes astray and she becomes increasingly attracted to a black man. Grade B-
Real Women Have Curves Is a real movie, about real people, that gives us a rare glimpse into the Mexican American culture most of us don't know. Grade B+
Die Another Day This is the 20th Bond entry in a 40-year series, and is hardly more than a series of action vignettes in search of a story. Great stunts and special effects though! Grade B-
Maid in Manhattan Basically, the recipe for this film is a dash of CINDERELLA, various safe, predictable, cute scenes; a couple of funny characters, and Presto! A bedtime story for 12-year -old girls. Grade B
Treasure Planet abounds with kid-friendly thrills, while featuring a funny script, and stunning animation. Grade B-
Frida is mostly a love story with a backdrop of art and politics, documenting the life and work of Mexican surrealist Frida Kahlo. Grade B
Two Weeks Notice Sandra Bullock and Hugh Grant are perfectly charming in this buoyant, considerably appealing movie. If you’re a bonafide romantic comedy buff (read: chick flick viewer) then you’ll also find this worth your time. Grade B+
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers The second part of the trilogy hits the ground running — it literally begins where the first film ends, and it is engrossing, imaginative and exciting
Catch Me If You Can Fueled by a wonderful performance from Leonardo DiCaprio, Catch Me If You Can is a lighthearted yet heart-wrenching look at the making of a truly brilliant, if somewhat reluctant, con artist.