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The Thomas Crown Affair, a review by RossRoy

Original Title: The Thomas Crown Affair Year: 1999 Country: United States Director: John McTiernan Rating: R Length: 113 Min. Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 2.35:1, Pan & Scan 1.33:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 5.1, Commentary: Dolby Digital Stereo, French: Dolby Digital 5.1, Commentary: Dolby Digital Surround Subtitles: English, French

What they say
"Pierce Brosnan and Rene Russo catch fire" ('USA Today') in this sizzling, suspense-filled thriller from the director of 'Die Hard' and 'The Hunt For Red October'.

Thrill-seeking billionaire Thomas Crown (Brosnan) loves nothing more than courting disaster -- and winning! So when his world becomes too stiflingly "safe," he pulls off his boldest stunt ever: stealing a priceless painting -- in broad daylight -- from one of Manhattan's most heavily-guarded museums. But his post-heist excitement soon pales beside an even greater challenge: Catherine Banning (Russo). A beautiful insurance investigator hired to retrieve the artwork, Catherine's every bit as intelligent, cunning 'and' hungry for adventure as he is. And just when Thomas realizes he's finally met his match, she skillfully leads him into a daring game of cat and mouse that's more intoxicating -- and dangerous -- than anything either of them has ever experienced before!

My Thoughts
I really didn't know what to watch tonight. I knew I felt like watching a movie, as opposed to playing games, but I was not in any particular mood. So what I did is I closed my eyes, and "felt" my way through my unwatched pile, and watched the movie on which my hand stopped. And so The Thomas Crown Affair it was.

So, what did I think of it? Well, I don't really know. I guess it wasn't what I was expecting. I don't know where I got that from, but I was expecting some sort of suspenseful thriller. What I got, is a thriller alright, but more a romantic thriller.

I loved the opening scene. Never having seen the original, I really didn't know what was going on. And to open on a heist to steal a painting, really sets the story in motion in a great way. Unfortunately, it kinda drags all the way through to the reveal of the painting's fate. Sure, there's a few highlights. The dance scene is nice, although both of them aren't really dancers. The sex scene is fun too, and I must say, while I never cared much for René Russo, she is strikingly beautiful in this movie. And no, I'm not saying this only because we see her topless a few times . But all in all, it is quite boring in my opinion. It plays too much like a romance movie sandwhiched between two action scenes.

You know, it could be the ultimate chick flick for boyfriend. Opens with a good action scene, develops the romance, closes on an action scene. With sex and nudity thrown in for good measure.

Thomas Crown is an OK movie, but not something I'll necessarily be eager to watch again.



edit:

I forgot to mention something. The soundtrack is awesome! The choice of the songs is wonderful. It might have something to do with the fact that it is very jazz oriented, and well, I love jazz. I even let the credits roll, twice, just to listen to the song (Windmill of Your Mind by Sting)



(From RossRoy's Random Viewings on May 26th, 2008)

Star Trek: First Contact, a review by DJ Doena

Star Trek: First Contact



Patrick Stewart ... Captain Jean-Luc Picard
Jonathan Frakes ... Commander William Riker
Brent Spiner ... Lt. Commander Data
LeVar Burton ... Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge
Michael Dorn ... Lt. Commander Worf
Gates McFadden ... Commander / Dr. Beverly Crusher
Marina Sirtis ... Commander Deanna Troi
Alfre Woodard ... Lily Sloane
James Cromwell ... Dr. Zefram Cochrane
Alice Krige ... Borg Queen
Michael Horton ... Lieutenant Daniels
Neal McDonough ... Lieutenant Hawk
Marnie McPhail ... Lieutenant Eiger
Robert Picardo ... Emergency Medical Hologram
Dwight Schultz ... Lieutenant Reginald Endicott Barclay III

The Borg are attacking the Federation and Earth again and the fleet can't stop them. But then Picard finds a way to destroy the Borg Cube. At this moment a Borg Sphere can escape and it opens a tunnel into the past, to destroy the Federation before it was even founded. The Enterprise has no choice but to follow and try to prevent it.

My opinion:
While I Picard's mourning in 7 didn't felt believeable, I had no problem believing his hatred. I also thought it to be a good idea that he got out of it with the help of classic literature which is a known hobby of Picard's. I don't know if it's a coincidence but movies that are based directly on the events of the series (II and use Moby Dick as a basic plotline.
It was also nice to see how image and reality clashes when it comes to Cochrane.

(From Weekend Star Trek Marathon on February 10th, 2008)

[Rerun Marathon] Spaced, a review by Tom

8/10

Another great episode. I found it as good as the first episode but not better (therefore "only" an eight)

(From [Rerun Marathon] Spaced on October 25th, 2007)