Doom
Wallace and Gromit
The Legend Of Zorro
Doom
Based on the popular computer game of the same name, "Doom" is about a mission of hardcore marines who arrive at a scientific research facility on Mars where something has clearly gone wrong. The marines soon discover that this is no ordinary mission, and that something otherworldly and evil awaits them. This shoot-'em-up movie is as dimwitted as can be, and has a surprising amount of plot holes. Actor The Rock is the only thing cool about the film, and it isn't his fault that illogical twists make him look completely silly toward the end. As bad as "Doom" may be, it's action-packed and entertaining - in an inane kind of way. The movie also delivers some splendid laughs 's though that probably wasn't the aim.
( Julie Vinten )
"Doom" is an absolute stinker of a movie. The story is much the same as the equally atrocious "Resident Evil," in which a powerful corporation creates a genetically engineered super-monster at a secret base on Mars. A group of elite marines, led by The Rock, is sent to investigate after a team of scientists go missing there. "Doom" is about as dumb as a film can be, and I hope it bombs at the box office so Hollywood will stop churning out these computer game-inspired films once and for all. Someone should write an academic essay on U.S. marine discourse in cinema. Do they really say things like "Look lively people!" and "Let's lock and load!" or is it only when they are on alien-combat maneuvers in outer space?
( Tim Ochser )
Wallace and Gromit
With the annual vegetable festival approaching, Wallace and Gromit earn the respect of their town by keeping peoples' vegetables safe with their rabbit-catching inventions. That is, until a giant monster-rabbit starts tormenting the citizens' gardens. England's beloved claymation (animation with clay figures) short-films about the cheese-loving inventor, Wallace, and his clever dog, Gromit, finally appear on the big screen. The world of Wallace and Gromit is alluring and highly original. Children and adults alike were gasping for air from laughter, as this movie is at once charming, clever and funny. The filmmakers have, besides their amazing technical skills, excellent flair for narrative flow and timing, and the character depiction is straight on. The 85 minutes simply flew right by.
1/2 ( Julie Vinten )
This absolute delight of a film sees Wallace and Gromit, those wonderful clay offspring of creator Nick Park's imagination, in their first full-length feature. The pair is called into action when their local village's annual vegetable-growing competition comes under threat from a mysterious monster which is going around devouring everyone's potential prize marrows. The story is part homage to cheesy old horror films, and part homage to plain old cheese. The animation is breathtaking, the humor wonderfully endearing and the story itself never ceases to amaze with its inventiveness. It even manages to avoid the rampant sentimentality of films like "Finding Nemo" while being every bit as touching. But Gromit, as ever, is the real star of the show. His face is a physiognomic wonder. Not bad, considering he doesn't even have a mouth.
( Tim Ochser )
The Legend Of Zorro
Antonio Banderas and Catherine Zeta-Jones are reunited in this follow-up to the 1998 success movie "The Mask of Zorro." The year is 1850, when Mexican hero Zorro (Banderas) once again has to save the people of California from evildoers. This time both his wife (Zeta-Jones) and his 10-year-old son (Adrian Alonso) join the fight. After an opening with boring marital bickering, this sequel manages to recapture a great deal of the fun and charisma that the first film had. However, the movie suffers from a half-baked narrative, the absence of truly explosive action/sword-fight sequences and an uninteresting villain. "The Legend of Zorro" is a decent, entertaining sequel. But to be as good as its predecessor, it needs a bit more spark and wit.
( Julie Vinten )
There is something strangely depressing about this dull and rather dismal sequel to "The Mask of Zorro." The original wasn't exactly brilliant, but its sheer exuberance made it good fun all the same. This time round, however, you feel that the studio accountants were the only ones pushing for this film to be made, as no one's heart seems much in it. Director Martin Campbell desperately tries to pull out all the stops to make it work, but the elaborate action sequences can only divert your attention from how bad the film is for a short while. There are some engaging moments, though, such as when Zorro (Antonio Banderas) goes into a sad drunken decline when he mistakenly believes that his beloved Elina (Catherine Zeta-Jones) has divorced him. But the swashbuckling stops here.
( Tim Ochser )
