Die Hard

Die Hard; Two top actors playing cat & mouse in a high rise w/high stakes, delivers the tension, excitement & explosions that movie studios have tried to emulate ever since. Nails the tonal balance between hostage crisis and holiday humour perfectly, with great character work across the board; A+

Hudson Hawk

Hudson Hawk; Silly caper seems to be 2 (or 3) movies happening simultaneously. One is an overblown action film, the other is a farcical sendup of Indiana Jones style quests, (the 3rd a wacky romcom). If you’re game, it may all work as a wild stew but may leave others puzzled; B-

G.I. Joe: Retaliation

G.I. Joe: Retaliation; What did we do to deserve this? Trailer is > the movie. Designed to sell toys. Two hours I will never get back; D

The Fifth Element

Directed by:  Luc Besson
Starring:  Bruce Willis, Milla Jovovich, Gary Oldman, Ian Holm, Chris Tucker
Running Time:  2h 06min

Oldman is his chamelean self again, totally immersing himself in his role, his costume, and the scenery.  It's hard not to, what with the totally out-of-this-world approach to the future.  Things are recognizable only in structure as the director's vision is completely original.  This is a future where you can't question its basis; everything is totally new.  They don't have to stop and explain what it is the characters are doing, seeing, or engaging in; you wouldn't understand it, it's the future.  This creates an exciting viewer-film relationship, with the only thing grounding the viewer is the fact that the story hasn't changed.  Willis is still the reluctant hero (who better to play the role?) and in the end love conquers all.  Enjoy!

Grade: B-

Pulp Fiction (Pan & Scan)

Pulp Fiction; A reviewer's paradise. I would review this movie a thousand times and still find something new to rave about. After seeing it four times at the theatre and countless times on video (I own 3 different copies) I managed to catch his film on Showcase. That is why it has only received an A. The movie loses very little in its Pan & Scan version but that "little" is Tarantino's amazing use of the widescreen. Pulling from influences like Scorcese's long tracking and Kubrick's horizontal shift through walls, Tarantino manages to mix great filming with fresh, natural sounding dialogue to visual appeal is an A+. Everything that is except the Pan & Scan format; A