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Reader Reviews: November 6th-12th 2004

By Garth Franklin Friday November 12th 2004 09:42PM

Alexander "Returning after a five-year hiatus from commercial filmmaking, Stone made an epic that rivals the best in Hollywood history and a damned entertaining movie that is sure to sweep multiplex audiences along in its beguiling thrall..." (full review)

Finding Neverland "The magic of "Peter Pan" is put to the test in the lightly charming film, "Finding Neverland." While unfortunately sidetracked by some embarrassing performances, once the film keeps focus on the ever-expanding imagination of playwright J.M. Barrie, the picture is a delight, and provides another reason why we all love Johnny Depp..." (full review) "All this is fine and dandy, and the film is a pleasant enough diversion, if you're in the mood for a leisurely paced and oftentimes painfully boring melodramatic bit of fluff, but it glosses over the real controversies that surrounded Barrie's life; essentially becoming a live-action version of a Walt Disney cartoon..." (full review)

Seed of Chucky "The script was tight and everything flowed perfectly, which actually hurt the film a tad. The movie had to progress in such a way to get everything moving without any downtime. Before I knew it, the movie was over- just like that (snap of my fingers). It was filled with dialogue, action, laughs and not a second of boredom; every single second was accounted for..." (full review)

Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason "Filled with sentimentally, surrounded by farcical and implausible subplots and then coated in enough sugar to make your teeth instantly fall out, the movie that lost the key ingredient that made it so delightful in the first place, its connectivity..." (full review) "Bridget Jones's Diary was a witty, breezy delight, so a sequel would seem a smart move. Too bad Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason is so contrived and unfunny. Renee Zellweger still charms in the title role, but the sequel tries so hard to be witty and breezy that it turns out flat and even embarrassing at times..." (full review) "Deeply entertaining, but not very nutritious, "Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason" will please fans immensely with the return of beloved characters and their hilarious romantic foibles. Bridget's adventures in this sequel have trouble matching the original's level of fun, but it coasts on charm alone, which this film is overflowing with..." (full review) "One of the least dignified movies ever made.  To be perfectly honest, the film is absolutely vile.  It's like visiting a strip club or watching a porno with friends -- you feel ashamed that you took part in this event.  I feel bad for those of you who adored the original and are about to be disappointed by this sequel..." (full review)

After the Sunset "After the Sunset is nothing more than The Thomas Crown Affair for Dummies.  It's a highly predictable film that has nothing new to add to the history of cinema and is only saved by Salma Hayek's treasured cleavage.  The movie is one of the most unoriginal films ever made.  It's a carbon-copy of everything that's ever gone before..." (full review) "Brosnan brings back some of the wit and humor he displayed in his Remington Steele days when he became an established star before Bond.  This type of film is a perfect fit for him and he looks comfortable in the skin of the character..." (full review) "A lightweight caper held together by great performances and the knee-buckling sexuality of Salma Hayek, "After the Sunset" is only undone when it becomes more ambitious and conventional. Underrated director Brett Ratner brings a lot of charm to this caper comedy, with his coverage of the Bahamas location alone worth the price of admission..." (full review)

Ladies in Lavender "Ladies in Lavender with appeal very strongly to its target audience. Its only real problem a lack of backstory for the three main characters, especial Andrea but this does not deter you from the excellent performances that make the film enjoyable..." (full review)

I Am David "'I am David' is a movie that is impossible not to like. Interesting from the start and through the performance of Ben Tibber, you cannot help but be drawn into David's journey and be intrigued as to whether he completes it or not. This is a heart-warming tale that, while not life changing, will effect you and just make you feel a little more grateful for what you have..." (full review)

Murder-Set-Pieces ""Murder-Set-Pieces" is so violent I actually felt like I was going to throw up a few times, and I have seen just about everything. What writer and director Nick Palumbo has done is create a set of characters so horrifically believable, but so terribly interesting, it's nearly impossible to turn your head away..." (full review)

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