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Ever After: A Cinderella Story, a review by Tom

Title: Ever After
Year: 1998
Director: Andy Tennant
Rating: FSK-6
Length: 116 Min.
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 2.35
Audio: English: Dolby Digital 5.1, German: Dolby Digital 5.1, Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles: English, German, Spanish

Stars:
Drew Barrymore
Anjelica Huston
Dougray Scott
Patrick Godfrey
Megan Dodds

Plot:
Once upon a time...

'a dazzling rendering of the Cinderella story' (The Washington Post) brought new life to an age-old legend and made us believe in the strongest magic of all: the power of the human heart. Drew Barrymore and Anjelica Huston star in this enchanting adventure about having the courage to make your dreams come true.

A 'modern' young woman of the 16th century, Danielle (Barrymore) is as independent and wise as she is beautiful and kind. Against remarkable odds, she stands up to her scheming stepmother (Huston) and works miracles on the lives of everyone around her, including the crown prince of France (Dougray Scott)!

Now you can relive this captivating contemporary retelling of the classic fairy tale. No matter what you're looking for, 'action, romance, adventure...'Ever After' delivers it all!' (ABC-TV)

Awards:

AFI	1998	Nominated	100 Years... 100 Passions (2002)
Blockbuster Entertainment Awards	1999	Won	Favorite Actress - Drama/Romance	Drew Barrymore
Blockbuster Entertainment Awards	1999	Nominated	Favorite Male Newcomer	Dougray Scott
Blockbuster Entertainment Awards	1999	Won	Favorite Supporting Actress - Drama/Romance	Anjelica Huston
Satellite Awards	1999	Nominated	Best Costume Design	Jenny Beavan
Saturn	1998	Won	Best Actress	Drew Barrymore
Saturn	1998	Won	Best Costumes	Jenny Beaven
Saturn	1998	Nominated	Best Music	George Fenton
Saturn	1998	Nominated	Best Supporting Actress	Anjelica Huston
Teen Choice Awards	1999	Nominated	Film - Choice Breakout Performance	Dougray Scott
Teen Choice Awards	1999	Nominated	Film - Choice Drama

Extras:
Scene Access
Trailers

One of my all-time favorite movies! Definately my favorite Cinderella adaption. I loved this movie since I first saw it in the theatres. It made me a fan of Drew Barrymore.
It is a take on the Cinderalla story without any mystical help of a fairy godmother and such (if you do not count Da Vinci as a godmother).
Also nice to see that it is not Prince Henry who saves Danielle at the last moment, but that she saved herself. Her expression on her face when he comes for her rescue is a "What are YOU doing here?!"

Rating:

(From Tom's Alphabet Marathon Reviews on July 5th, 2010)

Northfork, a review by goodguy

Northfork (2003) Written by: Mark & Michael Polish Directed by: Michael Polish Starring: James Woods, Nick Nolte, Duel Farnes, Daryl Hannah DVD: R2-UK Metrodome (2004) My rating:

Cover blurb: 1955, Montana and a great flood is about to come. A new hydroelectric dam is about to be installed in the mountains above Northfork, ready to flood the valley in the name of progress.
It is the charge of a six man strong, trench-coated Evacuation Commitee to relocate the townsfolk to higher ground. But there are still tenacious stragglers. A lustful couple, a man with a pair of wives and his own Ark, a priest and the frail orphan he watches over, whose fevered visions lead him to believe he is the member of a lost band of roaming Angels desperately searching for a way home. Each one in limbo. Each one looking for a sign. Each one seeking a way to say goodbye.
Telling a beguiling story of loss & resurrection and rendered as a surreal, magical vision of America's Heartland, the Polish Brother's award winning 'Northfork' is a modern day fairytale and a testament to life, death and all that lies in between.

Jon says Quentin Tarantino, I say Hal Hartley. Jon says Coen Brothers, I say Polish Brothers.

To be honest, I'm not sure if it makes sense to compare the latter ones, but I had to get this started somehow. And it certainly seems that what Minnesota is to the Coens, Montana is to the Polish Brothers, meaning, there is a certain fondness for there respective roots in the middle of nowhere, in the "heartland"; combined with an odd and quirky sense of humor that seems to come from there.

In Northfork, that humor is more subdued and deadpan, and it only accentuates a spiritual and enigmatic story that couldn't be further away from the Coens usual antics. Northfork is such an achingly beautiful movie, it so perfectly captures a sense of loss, the longing to preserve a status quo and the dread that comes with unavoidable changes. It is deeply moving and profoundly sad, yet not entirely without hope.

I'm afraid that, even after having seen it now for the second time, I don't really know how to describe it. I intuitively understand it (I think), but I can't explain it. Go, see for yourself.


(From goodguy's Watch Log on September 8th, 2009)

Tom's TV Pilots marathon, a review by Tom

Quantum Leap: Season One (1989/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia Universal Studios Home Entertainment (United States) Length: 428 min. Video: Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

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Plot:Quantum Leap
1.01 Genesis
Writer: Donald P. Bellisario (Original Characters By), Donald P. Bellisario (Writer)
Director: David Hemmings
Cast: Scott Bakula (Sam Beckett), Dean Stockwell (Al), Jennifer Runyon (Peggy Stratton), John Allen Nelson (Captain "Bird Dog" Birdell), W. K. Stratton (Dr. Berger), Newell Alexander (John Beckett), Lee DeBroux (Coach), Larry Poindexter (Captain Tony LaMotta), Bruce McGill (Weird Ernie), Barbra Horan (Tina), David Trent (Captain Doug Walker), James F. Dean (Dr. Blaustein), Lela Ivey (Lucy), Dennis Wolfberg (Gooshie), Lydia Cornell (Sally), Christine Poor (Jeanie), Doug Cox (Sportscaster), Christian Van Dorn (Mikey Stratton), Hank Robinson (Umpire), Patrick Cranshaw (Old Man), Brent Chalem (Bat Boy), Adam Affonso (Young Sam), Mike Greenwood (Matt), Dave Duensing (Clyde), David Dawson (Barnes), Kevin Johnson (Pepper), Ken Martin (Tim Fox), Layne Beamer (Tom Stratton)

As you know I am a big fan of time-travel storylines. So it is no wonder that I enjoy this series. The pilot episode is good and introduces the premise well.

Rating:

(From Tom's TV Pilots marathon on June 24th, 2012)