Details

Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 20 June 2002

For those who’s seen episodes of the cartoon series, the script with require little explanation.  There’s an urban legend that creators William Hanna and Joseph Barbera were smoking something (other than nicotine) when creating the Scooby-Doo concept.  It’s the story of two guys, two girls and a talking dog who solve mysteries.  Practically every episode was the same and to be honest, it’d be the last cartoon I’d expect to see made into a live action film.  Oh well, I was wrong.

In this adventure, Fred (Jones), Daphne (Gellar), Shaggy (Lillard), Velma (Cardellini) and Scooby have all gone their separate ways.  After years of solving mysteries, they’ve become arrogant and decided to begin individual careers.  Two years later, they are reluctantly reunited when Mondavarious (Atkinson), the owner of a new theme park named Spooky Island, ask them to solve a new mystery.  It seems the teen crowd that are attracted to the island are being brainwashed into mindless zombies.

The plot is plain dumb and needed way more spice.  The villains and ghosts/monsters are very silly and not even remotely close to the stuff I remember from the original cartoon.  Of the cast, Matthew Lillard as Shaggy is the only believable cast member.  His voice is amazingly similar to that of Shaggy in the cartoon and given his sense of humour, it’s no wonder he gets the most on-screen time.  Scooby is a computer generated character and is fun in his own right but it’s too obvious he isn’t real.

Freddie Prinze Jr would be my least favourite actor.  He is pathetic and his bad acting skills combined with bad script decisions has seen him feature in the abominable Head Over Heels, Boys And Girls, Down To You and Wing Commander.  This film was shot in Brisbane at Movie World and the stories from the set are very interesting.  Prinze and girlfriend co-star Sarah Michelle Gellar refused to eat lunch with the other cast and refused to be on set unless required.  Any extras were ordered not to look directly at either Prinze or Gellar between shooting scenes.  Who are these arrogant pricks?  What gives them such a god given right?  No offence, but both have much to learn about acting and neither has a long career ahead of them.

Within a week of seeing the opening day box-office numbers, the studio has already announced a sequel is in the works to be released in 2004.  You see???  This what you get by going to see this film!  By handing over our money, we’re only encouraging them to make even more shit!  It’s time the U.S. government stops focusing on the war in Afghanistan and starts looking at some of the atrocities being committed against audience members in the nation’s multiplexes.

Details

Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 13 June 2002

However, her school believes that Sam’s intellect is inhibiting Lucy’s learning ability and thinks she would be best placed in a foster home.  Awaiting a hearing in the family court, Lucy is taken from Sam and the two emotionally suffer in being apart.  On advice, Sam realises he needs a lawyer to fight for custody and sees a flashy ad in the Yellow Pages for Rita Harrison (Pfeiffer).  Knowing Sam has no money to pay for her services, she rejects his case but after receiving flak from inside her firm, she reconsiders.

Sam and Rita then develop an important relationship.  Thanks to Rita’s expertise, Sam learns how the legal system works and what he has to do to get Lucy back.  Rita’s relationship with her own son has gone sour and thanks to Sam, she understands how neglectful she has been of him and starts rebuilding.  Feelin’ good yet?

I’ve tried hard but I just can’t think of an appropriate metaphor to describe just how emotionally manipulating this garbage is.  It’s sickening to watch, sickening to listen to, and sickening to endure.  The story is laughable and an insult to the people it depicts and the issues it explores.  You will have to excuse me if I wasn’t even slightly moved by the sentiment.  Ordinarily, I would have felt for Sam’s plight but I don’t particularly enjoy having my emotions so obviously milked.

Jessie Nelson’s direction is horrendous.  For some stupid reason, most of the film is shot with moving handheld cameras.  I think I saw steadier camera work in The Blair Witch Project.  Why would she even consider using such a style?  What is the point?  During several scenes, I had to look away in frustration and if you do suffer from motion sickness, take with you two panadene, a bottle of vodka and a firearm to ease the suffering.

The only thing saving this “film” from total retribution are the performances of Sean Penn and Michelle Pfeiffer.  They get no help from their supporting cast but Penn is great in a Rainman-like role and earned an Oscar nom for his work.  Pfeiffer is also good and tries to add spark to the pathetic screenplay but the mountain is just too high.

I believe in freedom and giving people the opportunity to do whatever they want but I plead with you not to see I Am Sam.  If you must (for reasons you will have to explain to me), then be careful not to fall into the traps that lie waiting for you.  I’m starting to think this film was actually written by someone with the mental capacity of a 7-year-old.  Sorry if I have offended writers Kristine Johnson and Jessie Nelson but they asked for it.  I am Matt.   I am right.

Details

Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 20 June 2002

Spirit: Stallion Of The Cimarron (a long title I know) is from Dreamworks, the same production company who made Shrek, Antz, The Prince Of Egypt and Chicken Run.  It’s quite unusual in that the animals in the film (mostly horses) don’t talk.  They neigh and snort like regular horses when you think about it, this is unusual.  There’s hardly any dialogue at all.  A few humans speak and Matt Damon does some light narration but aside, it’s just the background noises and the loud film score from Bryan Adams and Hans Zimmer that you’re likely to notice.

The story’s simplicity will help it appeal to kids.  It’s the Old West and a feisty stallion is captured by humans to be broken in and used as a work horse.  Refusing to give in to the humans, the stallion escapes captivity and begins a journey to find his way back home to be with his mother and friends.  Along the way, he’ll meet some interesting characters and also an attractive mare to spice things up.

It’s less that 80 minutes in duration so make sure you don’t arrive late but do come with children or else there’s little point.  Unlike other recent animations, there’s nothing here to appeal to adults and only kids will derive any satisfaction.  My cinema was packed with plenty of them and their laughter and screams suggested they liked what they saw.

Bryan Adams’s songs are well written and might pop up again in the Oscar season.  But without funny talking animals, this Spirit isn’t going to set the box-office alight, have customers returning for repeat business, or have them cashing in on cheap merchandise and happy meals.  All given, it’s not going to be the film on the tip of kids’ tongues this winter.

Details

Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 06 June 2002

Having just emerged from the cinema, my feelings are of great relief (as the film was equal to the hype), of great satisfaction (having seen a very enjoyable production), and of great anticipation (knowing an intriguing sequel lies ahead).  It’s certainly not a ground breaking flick but it doesn’t purport to be anything it’s not.  It’s only trying to be fun, action-packed entertainment and it’s right on the mark without overstepping it.

Tobey Maguire (The Cider House Rules, Pleasantville) was a criticised choice when initially cast but is a natural in the role of Peter Parker (aka Spider-Man).  He has a nerdish quality but a subtle sense of humour that is ideal.  He doesn’t try to be a super-serious superhero and has a lot of fun.  I love his cries of “woohoo” when flying above the city streets.  Kirsten Dunst (Interview With A Vampire, The Virgin Suicides) is also superb as Mary Jane Watson and her relaxed “girl next door” persona which makes her a refreshing love-interest who isn’t second-fiddle to both the hero and the story.

I’ve never read a Spider-Man comic but the film’s introduction provides the background to building interest in its subject.  Peter Parker is an ordinary teenager with the hots for a girl, Mary Jane Watson, who’s never really noticed him.  On a school excursion at a science laboratory, he is bitten by a genetically-engineered spider and develops super-human strength and dexterity.  Oh, and he can also shoot sticky spider webs from his wrists.

Peter’s best friend, Harry (Franco), has a wealthy father, Norman (Dafoe), who has been working himself on genetic mutation.  After a botched experiment, he too develops miraculous abilities but as The Green Goblin, is using his power in evil ways.  And so Spider-Man’s easy-living days of clearing crime off New York’s streets are about to get more difficult.   He’s now got an nasty adversary with the strength to stop him.

Credit to the marketing team behind the film.  They have woven a web of media hysteria and the resulting box-office is validation of their efforts.  Spider-Man has completely destroyed Attack Of The Clones.  After a new record for the biggest 3-day opening in U.S. History ($114.8m), the film’s gross already has it in the top 5 of all time with still much more to be reaped from returning audiences.  A great film with great marketing will always equal extraordinary results.

Sam Raimi has done well from the director’s chair.  There are no unnecessary lulls and the dynamic screenplay gives it the depth that’ll keep you attentive the entire time.  It’s the cracking pace that makes raises Spider-Man above almost any other action film to be released in the past few years.  Frustratingly, the special effects are a little too obvious but there’s plenty of daring stunt work too that helps offset the CGI distractions.

            Essentially, Spider-Man offers something different while staying within the realms of familiarity.  It’s the tricky love-triangle between Peter, Mary and Harry that rightfully gets focus ahead of repetitive action sequences.  Highly recommendable, Peter Parker sums it up best in his introduction - “This story, like any worth telling, is all about a girl.”

Details

Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 13 June 2002

Conor unenthusiastically shows up for the first day of practice to meet his team.  They’re all from poverty stricken backgrounds and live in substandard housing on the outskirts of Chicago.  The training session doesn’t go well with the team showing their obvious lack of skill.  To make matters worse, Conor gets a visit from the league president warning him that if he can’t find a nine man team, the team will be kicked out.

To get two additional players, Conor goes to the local school and introduces himself to teacher Elizabeth Wilkes (Lane) who his instantly develops an attraction to.  Ms Wilkes promises to let more of her students play if Conor will help them prioritise their homework.  So, Conor begins the job of transforming his team from a team of jokes into a team of champions.  Not only is he successful, but he reaches a defined understanding of his own life and vows to get himself back on track.

Keanu Reeves would be one of the most hot-cold actors in the business.  He draws consistent criticism for many weak performances which have arisen because of bad casting.  Yet, when he finds a role that does suit, he rises to the occasion and reaffirms our faith in his ability.  Hardball best fits the later description.  Reeves is on-song and has the rough personality that matches that of Conor O’Neill.  Surprisingly, the talented Diane Lane doesn’t feature and is very much secondary to Conor’s and the kids’ stories.

You always know where a film like Hardball is heading and there’s only so much of it you can take.  As I’ve reiterated before, sport is most exciting when it is unpredictable.  Just when you think you’ve got it figured out, the underdog steals the show to heighten your interest.  The problem on screen is that sport movies usually are predictable and don’t contain the same level of excitement.  Honestly though, this is a feel good flick and nothing more should be expected.  There’s room for improvement but at least its heart is in the right place.