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Out of Africa, a review by Rich

Academy Award Best Picture winner 1985

Out of Africa



Adapted from Isak Dinesen's novel, OUT OF AFRICA, this film plaintively tells the story of two troubled adults who meet and fall in love in the African wilderness. Karen Blixen-Flecke (Meryl Streep) is a modern woman, caught in the shortcomings of a practical marriage. Finch Hatton (Robert Redford) is a gallant British hunter, lonely, but unable to commit. As they two meet and begin a torrid affair, they set out on an epic adventure in the badlands of Africa--an adventure that real-life Karen Blixen-Flecke would later WRITE under the pen name Isak Dinesen. Sydney Pollack's opus, OUT OF AFRICA, is a full, visually compelling film. Its storyline evokes a plethora of emotions, ranging from fear and loathing to hope and the elation of love. Robert Redford and Meryl Streep are electric as the two damaged infidels in love. A key American film, OUT OF AFRICA is not to be missed.

Absorbing and fascinating true storyline based on an extraordinary and enchanting backdrop, with top-rate cinematography squeezing out amazing African scenes at every opportunity.
It is a warm romance, sad in places, and with the underlying message that you cannot change people how ever much you love them. It was overly long at nearly 3 hours, but the ending was worth waiting for. Streep is at her best in this role, but for me I felt there was a lack of chemistry between her and Redford.
Captivating, top rate musical accompiniment, and a glimpse at a bygone era, this I would recommended for those with a compassionate nature 



(From Riches Random Reviews on February 12th, 2009)

Cars 2, a review by Dragonfire

I wasn't sure about Cars 2 when I first heard it was being made, but I still wanted to see it.  I went Friday on opening day like I have for the last several Pixar movies.

I really enjoyed the movie and think it is fun and entertaining.  I do think there are a few issues, but it is still well done and a good movie overall.  The plot could be a little complicated for younger children and they may not get the spy stuff, but I think it works.  The mission the spy cars are working on ends up connected to the series of races that Lightning is competing in.  This one is more of just a fun, adventure type movie.  The story has a few moments with some emotion in them, but the story doesn't have the same strong emotional core previous Pixar movies have had and that is a bit disappointing.  I think the story works, but it could have been stronger.  The movie isn't quite as good as previous Pixar movies.  Despite that, it is still entertaining and worth seeing.  A movie from Pixar with these issues is still better than what most of the other studios are making for animated movies.

The animation is amazing and the different locations used for the movie look great.  There is a bit more action to what is going on in this one.  One or two things happen that might bother or upset younger children, but things aren't that graphic.  The most disturbing things aren't shown..instead other characters are shown reacting to those things. 

Most of the characters from the first movie are back, though most of them end up with very little to do.  It would have been nice if those characters had more to do.  Mater is more of a main character this time and he ends up with the most to do.  He ends up in some interesting situations that sometimes cause tension in his friendship with Lightning.  Since Mater is featured more this time, people that don't like him probably won't be happy.  There are some new characters that are interesting.  The two British spies, Finn and Holly, end up with the most to do of the new characters.  The voice cast does a good job with their characters.

Before the movie is a really cute, entertaining short, Hawaiian Vacation with the Toy Story characters. 

I've seen some of the negative things being said about this movie by critics.  It almost seems like some of them went in to seeing the movie already decided it would be crap and were just looking for stuff to complain about.  It is sort of like some people have decided that since this one isn't better than Toy Story 3, then it's crap.  Yes Pixar has made movies that are better, but this one is still pretty darn good. 

For me, the movie is somewhere between 4.5 and 5 stars...maybe around 4.7 or 4.8.  Since I didn't have that as a rating option at Epinions, I rounded up to 5.

I did get a review posted on Epinions if anyone wants to take a look.

Cars 2

(From Cars 2 on June 28th, 2011)

Tom's TV Finales marathon, a review by Tom

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Black Adder III (1987/United Kingdom) IMDb | Wikipedia (United States) Length: 220 min. Video: Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround Subtitles:

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Plot:
England 1768-1815. A golden age of wealth, power and discovery though not for Edmund Blackadder Esq. In a situation that can rightly be seen as something of a slump in the fortunes of the previously aristocratic Blackadder family, Edmund is now butler and gentleman's gentleman to the "mini-brained" Prince Regent.


Black Adder
Series 3.06 Duel and Duality
Writer: Richard Curtis (Writer), Ben Elton (Writer)
Director: Mandie Fletcher
Cast: Rowan Atkinson (Edmund Blackadder, butler to the Prince), Tony Robinson (Baldrick, a dogsbody), Hugh Laurie (The Prince Regent, their master), Helen Atkinson-Wood (Mrs. Miggins, a coffee shoppekeeper), Stephen Fry (The Duke of Wellington, a famous soldier), Gertan Klauber (King George III, a mad Monarch)

I always liked the third series. And it has a good final episode. The one which has a good outcome for Blackadder himself.

Rating:

(From Tom's TV Finales marathon on February 17th, 2013)