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Blue Velvet, a review by Rich

Blue Velvet



Beneath the surface of small-town serenity lies a dark domain where innocents dare not tread and unpredictability is the norm. It is the haunting realm of  Blue Velvet. Spawned from the mind of David Lynch (Mulholland Drive, "Twin Peaks"), Blue Velvet is a "shocking, deeply disturbing...startling mixture of the heartfelt and the horrific" (Newsweek).
Clean-cut Jeffrey Beaumont (Kyle MacLachlan) realizes his Mayberry-like hometown is not so normal when he discovers a human ear in a field. His investigation catapults him into an alluring, erotic murder mystery involving a disturbed nightclub singer (Isabella Rossellini) and a drug-addicted sadist (Dennis Hopper). Soon Jeffrey is led deeper into their depraved existence... to the point of no return.

David Lynch is like the marmite of directors, you either love him or hate him. Unfortunately I fall into the second camp, only ever previously enjoying one of his movies.
My opinion has not changed after viewing Blue Velvet. Certainly there is a shock value to the film, albeit dated after 2 decades, it subtly hits you on the bonce like a sledgehammer, your senses are tickled as if with a taser, and seedier elements of the film will stay with me.
Dennis Hopper as the vicious psycho was superb, but the rest of the cast just didn't work for me in this, Laura Dern was too old for the role, and MacLachlan a feeble lead. Lynch's style is not my cup of tea, very slow and arty, brooding looks, pans to a tree, or to a specific prop, just doesn't work for my simple brain.
I am sure the cardigan and pipe brigade will tell me how wonderful this movie is, exploring the dark side and sexual frustrations of human nature, with the backdrop of suburban America. But I just found it too pretentious, empty, depressing and confused.
 


**Laura Dern mini-marathon


(From Riches Random Reviews on August 27th, 2009)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, a review by Dragonfire

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1

I went to see this on opening day.  I've already seen it a second time.  I really enjoyed the movie and think it is one of the stronger movies in the series.  The adaptation is better, though there are still a few explanations that are missing.  I do wonder how some things are going to work in the last movie since they haven't been set up properly.

This is the seventh movie in a planned eight movie series.  This one definitely builds on things that happened in the previous movies, so people really should see the previous movies first.  People who have read the books but not seen the first movies could still follow what is going on in this one I think.  Read the books..see the first movies..then see this movie.

A lot happens over the course of the movie.  I don't think it would have worked right as a shorter movie.  I definitely think it was a good idea to split the final book into two movies.  There is just too much in the final book to squish it into one movie and do the story justice.  Action does turn up in some scenes, though I wouldn't call this one action packed.  That doesn't bother me, though I have seen and heard some reviews from people - who haven't read the books - who felt that nothing happened in the movie. Several things are dealt with in the movie.  Magic stuff is in the movie again, though at times, it does seem that some of the magic stuff has been removed.  There are no talking and movie pictures shown in this one.  Hogwarts isn't shown and really isn't even heard about.  In the book, a few things about it are at least mentioned. 

The characters have grown a lot over the course of the series, and that continues in this movie.  They face new challenges while trying to find the horcruxes.  Ron really goes through a lot, and Rupert Grint gets a bit more to do than he has in previous movies.  Ron is more than just comic relief which is nice.  I'm so glad that the cast has stayed the same for all the movies.  Some characters are only briefly seen or are missing, though some of them should be around a bit more in the final movie.  Doby is finally back and he looks wonderful.

Overall, I really enjoyed this one.  I'll be seeing the final movie in the theater as well, though I do wonder how a few things will be dealt with.

I did get a longer review posted on Epinions.  The review doesn't have any spoilers.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1


(From Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 on December 3rd, 2010)

Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles: The Complete Second Season marathon, a review by Achim

20. To The Lighthouse
Fearing for his life, Sarah stashes John in a safe house, away from Derek and Cameron. John Henry realizes he is not alone.

My Comments:
With the previous episode having wrapped up some of the story arcs this one felt almost like a little reboot; rather weird for the third to last episode. The first half half is spent to re-establish characters in their current state and setting up everyone's position. Sarah abandons Cameron and Derek, feeling they are not safe for John, and wants to hook up john with Charlie instead. Derek and Cameron realize that they have been set loose and therefore have to bond in order to get back on track. The previously hinted at third party makes itself known to John Henry and has Weaver and Ellison nervous. But then thinks kick into gear and suspense and action ensues as the noose tightens around John and Sarah (separately) and Cameron and Derek are attacked.

this reboot just before the end is a bit odd, but I assume this last set of three episodes will work as a tight trilogy of sorts, wrapping up most remaining story lines. The gap between Sarah and John is than it ever was which makes the separation from Cameron and Derek feel all the more dangerous. Sarah again keeps too many secrets from John, trying to protect him yet driving him away from her. The ending is just like it should be for the opening of the closing trilogy, with loose ends and cliffhangers all around.



(From Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles: The Complete Second Season marathon on March 5th, 2010)