'The Children Of Huang Shi' Review

Chow Yun-Fat, left, and Jonathan Rhys Meyers in Roger Spottiswoode’s Children of Huang Shi.  Watch the trailer:  http://www.childrenofhuangshi.com/

We saw this wonderful movie where we see foreign & small works and why this one has not received a wide distribution is a mystery. Maybe it's because there aren't any big name stars attached but the cast is well known to viewers of these kinds of movies. Maybe that's the charm of The Children of Huang Shi  in not seeing stars whose appearance would distract from the story.  Besides the great photography shot on location, there's a matching vibrant score that sweeps you along without being manipulative. Don't be surprised if you shed a tear at the end or during it.

   The Children of Huang Shi is based on a real incident about British journalist named George Hogg, played by Jonathan Rhys Meyers, in China during the Japanese invasion. He is forced to take over an orphanage and becomes a better person for it as he learns to care for the needy. He's guided by a war weary nurse, Radha Mitchell, an American-educated Communist guerrilla, Chow Yung Fat, and a widowed merchant, Michele Yeoh. The rest of the cast including those without dialogue more than fill out the needs of the story. 

   I dare anyone not to be moved by the end, including the ending where the real grown children are interviewed about how much Hogg did for them. I disagree with one reviewer who said:  "It’s difficult to care about Hogg himself, whose personality and motivations remain unplumbed. That’s why the testimonies from some of his former charges, played over the end credits, are so unexpectedly moving."  You learn enough about him and his past as you slowly watch him evolve from caring only about his profession to become a leader of the desperate.

   And Mom enjoyed it as much as us.

'Mongol' Review

Tadanobu Asano, right, as Genghis Khan during family time in Mongol.  Watch the trailer:   http://mongolmovie.com/

Mongol was one of the best historical/action epics I've seen in a long time.  Unfortunately these types of big budgeted films are rarely made in America so we have to thank the foreign producers of this international work for doing it right.  The details and photography were eye-popping and the cast of unknowns fit their roles like hands in cozy, weathered gloves. The battle scenes were bloody but that's to be expected in this primative time. Nothing seemed out of place here except for the rock music washing over the closing credits. The rest of the score matched the story and I'll be buying the CD.

Genghis Khan is a revered figure in Asia and the director made sure he was treated fairly as not to anger his descendents.  He could be brutal but loving and forgiving at times.  And how he suffered so stoically during captivity, patiently waiting his time to plot his freedom until the right moment to escape. Mongol reminded me of earlier Russian historical epics, Sergei Eisenstein's Alexander Nevsky and Ivan The Terrible Part 1. The shooting was done under difficult conditions in remote locations and how it all came together is a triumph for director Sergei Bodrov. Two Sergeis, a coincidence? There's two more parts of this award-winning and successful film planned so I'll be anxiously waiting. Making the first part was a tasking labor of love for Bodrov as documented here: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/entertainment/la-ca-mongol1-2008jun01,0,7322942.story

Here's another article about the making of Mongol and other film versions: http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/film/article3979333.ece

'Get Smart' Review

Anne Hathaway as Agent 99 and Steve Carell as Maxwell Smart in Get Smart.  Watch the trailer:  http://www.moviefone.com/movie/get-smart/27152/main

The  Get Smart TV series came out when the James Bond movies and TV's The Man From U.N.C.L.E  were at the height of their popularity. I wasn't a big fan because parodies like this weren't that funny to me and usually lost their inventive edge as they progressed. I still think that Bond and his fellow spies were serious parodies of the Cold War and a humorous parody of a serious parody diluted the humor and bordered on silliness. OK the TV series had some funny bits and how Edward Platt who played the chief could keep a straight face during Don Adams' antics still amazes me. Otherwise I don't have any fond memories of the show since it's been years since I've seen an episode.

   How this movie will come across to people unfamiliar with the original is the big question.  We took Mom to see it and she enjoyed the jokes, slapstick humor, and action scenes. A lot of money was spent here and it's all up on the screen.  Steve Carell seems to have understood what made the TV show work and put his own spin onto his character. Although he's the butt of most of the jokes, he does save the day in his own convoluted way that usually exasperates his team.  The rest of the cast is in tune with the script that gets overly complicated at times but there's enough jokes to get through those scenes. Some jokes fall flat but there's enough belly laughs provided by sight gags to keep the merriment moving along.  As long as you're seen a James Bond movie with its high tech gadgetry and action stunts, you'll understand why the TV show was a hit and so might be this movie.

'The Incredible Hulk' Review

Don't piss off Edward Norton. To see what happens, watch the trailer: http://www.moviefone.com/movie/the-incredible-hulk/26921/main

My son & I celebrated Father's Day on Tuesday because he had to work Sunday. After dinner at Applebee's, we saw this movie. I only saw parts of the first Hulk on TV and was turned off by its cartoonish effects.  This version was much better with its state-of-the-art computer graphics and terrific surround sound. I never got into the comics or was a fan of the TV series so I can't say how this one compares to its sources. As a movie it was entertaining enough to flesh out the bare bones plot and characterizations.

   Edward Norton was fine but limited with his sketchy role as with the other actors.  Tim Roth offers his typical but always worthwhile villainy as a soldier who is transformed into another hulking monstrosity.

   Forget the negative reviews you've read or heard.  This is a painless two hours of slam-bam escapism so turn off your brain and enjoy it.  I just was tortured for two hours watching an artsy-fartsy mess called I'm Not There about several actors portraying aspects of Bob Dylan. At least it didn't cost anything because I borrowed the DVD from a co-worker.

   The Incredible Hulk may not rate as highly with some of the other recent movies based on comics such as Iron Man but this is not to knock it. My son heard this Hulk wasn't that good but he enjoyed it as much as me. This movie gives you exactly what it promises, nothing more or less: Tons of action and effects, and a pleasurable test for your ears.

'Girls Like Us' Review

I've finally made time to read a book about three remarkable women in music.  Actually it's a triple biography of Joni Mitchell, who I raved about on an earlier entry, Carly Simon, and Carole King. They are a tad older than me but still going strong.  Author Sheila Weller has the dirt on everyone and I read that Simon was embarrassed about reading of her past dalliances and indiscretions. . If Girls Like Us is candid on their sexual history, it's because these ladies grew up through the Sexual Revolution and Women's Liberation movements of the 60's and 70's and practiced it enough to influence their music. 

    Many year ago I knew somebody who knew somebody who knew Joni Mitchell and said she was 'a big whore' because she slept around with many famous people. That's an old unflattering term to describe her freewheeling lifestyle which provided plenty of material for her lyrics. This book also cites lyrics as autobiographical references for the other gals.  Plenty of gossip about the music business and former lovers & husbands will keep you glued.  These three ladies' lives crisscrossed in helping each other in recording studios as well as sharing lovers. Some of these men mentioned might not like how they come across as unsympathetic or with self-destructive addictions, but the book points out that these men did not give these ladies the kind of support they needed and were sometimes jealous of their talent and success.

    And what music they made and continue to make!  King's Tapestry is one of the all time bestselling albums and a must for any collection. And don't forget all the great songs she wrote with her first husband for other singers before becoming one.  Simon proved to be a good writer as well as performer but my favorite of the three is Mitchell. I'm proud to say I own every one her CDs and never tire of hearing them. How she explored new musical paths on each one is a neverending delight in relistening to them. I havr three of her DVD concerts and those too demonstrate her performing skills.

    Girls Like Us is more than a history of sexual awaking but a testament to the creativity and longevity of three similar but different careers. The best way to start to know them outside this book is get copies of their Greatest Hits. If you own these, this book is a good companion piece and reference guide.  There's enough history of their times that anchors their personal details and it's a trip down Memory Lane for us Oldsters.

'Roman de Gare' Review

Fanny Ardant in Claude Lelouch’s Roman de Gare.  Watch the trailer:  http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/408889/Roman-de-Gare/trailers

 I read about this movie and the preview we saw where we see foreign films was enticing. A film by Claude Lelouch is always worth seeing. I recall how his 1966's A Man And A Woman was a popular success here and won the Oscar for Best Foreign Film. That love story set against a racing car background made it the perfect date movie (romance for the gals and cars for the guys) also had a bestselling soundtrack with its samba-like theme song flooding the airwaves. Lelouch's latest reminds me of his 1975's Cat and Mouse, a tricky detective film that we saw in Boston when it arrived here. Both films are well acted with interesting characters who weave in & out through the story's  twists & turns and red herrings. You never know what is real until the end.

     Roman de Gare is another teaser about a jilted finance who meets a man who she takes home to convince her family that he is her real finance and may be a serial killer.  He also claims to be the ghost writer of a best selling authoress  who is later accused of his murder when he disappears off her boat. That's a capsule summary but there's subplots tying other characters and events to the leads who each play a game of deception for their personal agenda. 

      Dominique Pinon who we last saw as a music loving hitman in Diva, another popular French film of years ago and worth seeing now, plays the ghost writer to Fanny Ardant who we've seen in many European films. Both actors have aged well and wear their parts well including Audrey Dana, who's new to me and holds her own against these two pros.  But the real star here is Lelouch with all his trademark touches of comedy and come-ons wrapped in a mystery photographed like a travelogue. Pay close attention to the plot and hold on tight as Lelouch takes you for a leisurely ride that sneakily speeds up on you.   

    For those unfamiliar with Lelouch's works and for those who want to know more about him, here's a recent update: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/20/movies/20kehr.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

'The Rape of Europa' Review

At Schloss Neuschwanstein in southern Bavaria, Captain James Rorimer supervises the safeguarding of art stolen from French Jews and stored during the war at the castle (April-May, 1945). Watch the trailer: http://www.moviefone.com/search/the%20rape%20of%20europa

The title is a pun based on an old painting of a Greek myth: http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/cgi-bin/WebObjects.dll/CollectionPublisher.woa/wa/work?workNumber=L898   This enthralling documentary tells how Nazi Germany raped Europe by looting art and furnishings from museums and families while destroying what they considered culturally or, more precisely, racially inferior. Hitler, a failed art student in his youth, took his revenge by having his henchmen criminally amass thousands of works from conquered countries for the glory of his empire and himself. Seeing photographs and newsreels of huge amounts of discovered loot is staggering. Just as the Nazis systematically rounded up people and sent them away for extinction, we see how collections were packed and delivered by train to their new homes or temporary storage. John Frankenheimer's move The Train with Burt Lancaster is based on this ignoble period.

   There are moral dilemmas presented as countries and private owners want their works returned to their rightful owners. To this date there are unresolved legal actions taken by nations and the descendants of owners who died during the war. Russia's advancing armies at the close of the war took many German works and they still believe they should keep them as retribution for their loss and suffering when Germany attacked them. 

   This documentary is a must for anyone interested in a little known part of history.

'You Don't Mess With the Zohan' Review

Adam Sandler stars in You Don't Mess With the Zohan, directed by Dennis Dugan. Watch the trailer: http://www.moviefone.com/movie/you-dont-mess-with-the-zohan/30940/main

I've been an Adam Sandler fan since his SNL days. The  Zohan previews looked funny and we took Mom to see it since it had a PG-13 rating. It came close to being a 'R' with the countless sex jokes concerning his crotch but it was an amusing mix of physical and verbal comedy.  Lots of sight gags and gross jokes keep the laughs coming, including a few belly ones.  Even Mom enjoyed this movie since she hasn't seen too many of these kinds of comedies.

    Zohan gets a bit preachy about Middle Eastern politics and the simplistic ending is a diplomat's wish. The moviemakers seem to have made an honest attempt to show both sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through humor. Each group has its share of being the butt of jokes so there's something here to offend both sides, depending on your view of stereotypes.  And there's plenty of jokes about hummis to tease your appetite for Middle Eastern food.

  This is Sandler's show and the rest of the cast gets into the fun. I almost didn't recognize Rob Schneider made up as a Palestinian and casting John Turturro as a former terrorist paid off in an over the top performance that matches Sandler's.  The jokes fly fast during their final showdown. Watch out for the guest stars including Henry Winkler in perhaps the grossest but funniest scene in the movie (well in my opinion...) and a wicked parody of Donald Trump and his girlfriend.

   For those who want to dismiss Sandler and his movie, here's a counterview: http://nymag.com/movies/reviews/47552/