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The Spirit, a review by Rich

The Spirit



Above shadowy, crime-infested streets a masked avenger watches. Denny Colt (Gabriel Macht) was once Central City's finest cop until a gangster's bullet ended his life. Now Fate has brought him back from the beyond as The Spirit, a street-hardened hero who faces off against seductive foes like the voluptuous Sand Saref (Eva Mendes) or the alluring Silken Floss (Scarlett Johansson) in this graphic action-thriller.

Once you get past the wow factor of stunning cinematography, slick design, delightful backdrops and gorgeous cast, the storyline is very flat and hollow, and overall the film tails away into a forgetful mess.
This lacks the substance of Sin City and 300, and clearly Miller directing alone has cost the movie in lack of characterisation, acting direction, and sadly creates a feeling of blandness.
I'd seriously recommend not buying this disappointing dvd.
 

(From Riches Random Reviews on July 29th, 2009)

The Last Time I Saw Paris, a review by Hal

The Last Time I Saw Paris (1954/) Goodtimes Entertainment (United States) Director: Richard Brooks Writing: Julius J. Epstein (Screenwriter), Philip G. Epstein (Screenwriter), Richard Brooks (Screenwriter), F. Scott Fitzgerald (Original Material By) Length: 116 min. Video: Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital: Mono Subtitles:

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Stars:
Elizabeth Taylor as Helen Ellswirth
Van Johnson as Charles Wills
Walter Pidgeon as James Ellswirth
Donna Reed as Marion Ellswirth
Eva Gabor as Lorraine Quarl

Plot:Extras:

• Scene Access

I'm not sure exactly what it is about Van Johnson, but I have a hard time seeing him as a romantic lead, especially paired with Elizabeth Taylor.  The first three quarters of the movie, the two of them are simply care-free, good-time Joe and Jane, kind of taking their marriage for granted.  The transition to the jealous pair came on rather suddenly, and from the one I would have expected it least.  The scene with Van Johnson losing it over his publishers' rejections seemed to come on suddenly as well.  The foreshadowing of the tragedy of the film was also not done with much subtlety.

Even so, Taylor was marvelous, and as radiant as she ever was.  I especially liked the short "french" haircut she sported at the end of the film.  Donna Reed's role was well done, although her turn-about in the end, although predictable, was not really in keeping with the character.  Walter Pidgeon was excellent, as usual.

A good movie for Taylor, in a somewhat mediocre film overall.

Rating: 3

(From The Movies From Within My Lifetime on April 3rd, 2011)

The One Where It All Began: The Pilot Marathon, a review by DJ Doena

Desperate Housewives



What's the show about?
The show is about the woman of Wisteria Lane and how they live, thrive and survive. In the first season it's also about the death of Mary Alice Young.

"Pilot"
On the day our story begins Mary Alice Young decides to put a bullet through her head. In that week a plumber moved in the street that isn't what he seems to be, Bree Van De Kamp's husband wants divorce and Gabrielle Solis cheats her husband with the gardener.

My Opinion
The first season is build around the mystery of why Marie Alice shot herself and what Mike's (the "plumber") true intentions are. It's a funny show but I still haven't got aroudn to watch the second season.

(From The One Where It All Began: The Pilot Marathon on January 4th, 2008)