Flushed Away

Flushed Away
November 3, 2006
DreamWorks/ Aardman
Children's, Comedy, Action, Musical
DVD
B

This movie was and remains more fun than it should be.  I mean, it's a movie about a pet rat who gets flushed down a toilet and has adventures in the sewer.  But it's surprisingly sweet and funny, and although I'm not an action fan, I like the way the chase scenes are done, and the soundtrack choices.  The movie is unofficially a musical, thanks in no small part to the singing slugs, who start out as a throw-away joke and grow into a Vegas-level show-stopping ensemble.  The film is also almost a romance, with a great deal of chemistry between its lead rats, voiced by Hugh Jackman and Kate Winslet, as a posh male and a working-class female, but Roddy and Rita never quite get together.  I used to hope for a sequel (or at least a spin-off with the slugs) but that seems increasingly unlikely.

Slight Harry-Potter connection (not surprising in a British movie), as Miriam Margolyes voices Rita's Tom-Jones-loving Grandma, while Bill Nighy does Whitey.

Driving Lessons

Driving Lessons
September 4, 2006
UK Film Council etc.
Comedy, Drama
DVD
C

While this has some good performances and lovely scenery (particularly in Scotland), it's hampered by Jeremy Brock's writing and direction, which manage to be both cliched and nonsensical.  The film still has some curiosity value as the movie that Rupert Grint and Julie Walters made where they weren't playing Ron Weasley and his mum.  American Laura Linney does a fine job as the mother here, although it's hard to know how to take her or most of the other characters.  And I wish Grint, as Ben, wasn't so passive through most of the movie.  For what it's worth, more enjoyable than Grint's Wild Target (2010).

There are some other, more minor, Harry Potter connections.  Jim Norton, who plays Mr. Fincham, was Mr. Mason in Chamber of Secrets.  Samuel Gaukroger, who's a Child at Church, would be in Order of the Phoenix as a Hogwarts Student, while Rose Keegan, who's Emma Pagent here, would be Red Haired Witch in Deathly Hallows, Part I.

This Film Is Not Yet Rated

This Film Is Not Yet Rated
September 1, 2006
Netflix etc.
Documentary
DVD
B-

This film promises to be better than 1987's Hollywood Uncensored, offering as it does a more contemporary look at the movie-ratings system, although there is some historical background of course.  (Hello again, Mr. Hays.)  The problem is that the aptly named Kirby Dick strays from the subject of why and how the movies are rated by the MPAA and onto who these raters are.  Not that the thread of the lesbian private investigator is without entertainment value, but I feel like this aspect of the documentary is much less interesting than the clips, sometimes side by side, of what got an R-rating (usually violence, some straight content, and big studio) vs. what got an NC17 (usually penetration, anything remotely gay, and independent).  Watching the extras, I realized that the true "stars" of the movie are a trio of outrageous, funny, and insightful directors: Matt Stone (who had appeared in Bowling for Columbine), Kevin Smith (his line about Jersey Girl's poor box office should've been in the actual movie), and John Waters (the thing about "felching" is hilarious).  Instead of playing private dick, Kirby should've kept the focus on the people who make the controversial films.  Still, definitely worth watching, especially if you like movies about movies.

Obscene?

"I know a lot of perverts...."

Wordplay

Wordplay
July 21, 2006
Grinder Productions, etc.
Documentary
DVD
B

Good, solid documentary on a subject that I've never been particularly interested in.  (I prefer puzzles where you work with what's already there, like logic problems or cracking codes.)  Director Patrick Creadon interviews a variety of crossword-puzzle fans and designers (the two categories overlap), including celebrities, most notably former President Clinton.  There are also profiles of several competitors in the annual Crossword Puzzle Tournament.  Creadon builds both humor and suspense, drawing in the viewer with not only the personal moments but also such devices as accompanying graphics that show puzzles in progress.  The movie is mildly thought-provoking, if not as profound as some documentaries, and it is overall entertaining.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
November 18, 2005
Warner Bros.
Fantasy, Comedy, Drama
DVD
C+

This time the Harry Potter Regulars include (with * for newbies):

1. Afshan Azad as Padma Patil* (new to the role)
2. David Bradley as Argus Filch
3. Shefali Chowdhury as Parvati Patil* (new to the role)
4. Robbie Coltrane as Rubeus Hagrid
5. Warwick Davis as Filius Flitwick
6. Frances de la Tour as Madame Olympe Maxime*
7. Louis Doyle as Ernie Macmillan
8. Alfie Enoch as Dean Thomas
9. Tom Felton as Draco Malfoy
10. Ralph Fiennes as Lord Voldemort*
11. Michael Gambon as Albus Dumbledore
12. Brendan Gleeson as Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody*
13. Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley
14. Robert Hardy as Cornelius Fudge
15. Josh Herdman as Gregory Goyle
16. Stanislav Ianevski as Viktor Krum*
17. Jason Isaacs as Lucius Malfoy
18. Katie Leung as Cho Chang*
19. Matthew Lewis as Neville Longbottom
20. Angelica Mandy as Gabrielle Delacour*
21. William Melling as Nigel*
22. Devon Murray as Seamus Finnigan
23. Gary Oldman as Sirius Black
24. Robert Pattinson as Cedric Diggory*
25. James Phelps as Fred Weasley
26. Oliver Phelps as George Weasley
27. Daniel Radcliffe
28. Clémence Poésy as Fleur Delacour*
29. Adrian Rawlins as James Potter
30. Charlotte Skeoch as Hannah Abbott
31. Geraldine Somerville as Lily Potter
32. Timothy Spall as Peter "Wormtail" Pettigrew
33. Emma Watson as Hermione Granger
34. Jamie Waylett as Vincent Crabbe
35. Mark Williams as Arthur Weasley
36. Bonnie Wright as Ginny Weasley

Shirley Henderson returns as Moaning Myrtle, again impacting the plot and flirting with Harry.  And Miranda Richardson plays Rita Skeeter just right.  Unfortunately, she's one of the few.

My review of the book is here:  http://rereadingeverybookiown.blogspot.com/search?q=goblet.  Like I said, this was at the time my favorite book in the series, and the previous movie entry had set the bar very high.  So imagine my disappointment when I saw this mess!  OK, the movie isn't terrible-- none of the HP movies are-- but it took me a long time to reconcile myself to this one.  Over the years, I've gone back and forth on it, as I have on Chamber of Secrets, but on this viewing the things that have bothered me (and many other viewers) over the past almost decade all stood out.  And I'm going to place the blame where I have usually placed it, on director Mike Newell, despite my fondness for Enchanted April.

The biggest flaw is that many of the characters are tonally off.  Even with generally solid performances, like those of Fiennes and Gleeson, there are over-the-top melodramatic touches.  Newell's biggest miscalculation is with Gambon's Dumbledore, who not only has none of the serenity of Harris's, but also none of the whimsy and dry humour of Gambon in Azkaban.  

Oddly enough though, Newell is successful with Wright's Ginny, which was especially important at the time since Half-Blood Prince had come out the previous summer and we now knew she was going to be Harry's love interest.  Wright here transitions well from the shyer, quieter Ginny of the first three films to a girl who is plausibly the sister of the Weasley twins.  Also, Newell merges the Choir Professor with the already established Flitwick, adding another layer to Davis's character, and leading to some funny jokes in the next couple movies, as well as giving him a look that is more consistent with what Rowling imagined than the bearded gnome of Columbus's movies.  Still, this doesn't balance all the characters that Newell gets completely or partially wrong.

The other issue I have with the film, not unrelated, is that there is too much spectacle, particularly in the form of action.  (And why have the very un-canonical dragon chase all over Hogwarts, but omit the Quidditch World Cup?)  Cuarón and to a lesser extent Columbus were able to offer thrills and chills without losing sight of who Harry and the other characters were.  It would be up to David Yates, who directed the second half of the series, to reestablish the importance of emotional authenticity, while still delivering intense chase scenes, fight scenes, and the like.  All that said, I can enjoy this movie in bits and pieces, even if I'm sometimes laughing at it.  (That it lends itself easily to satire is seen in this still funny Soup clip:  http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xgzrx_harry-ron-slash-on-the-soup_fun)

Siobhan Ellen Williams is a Hufflepuff Student here but would defect to Gryffindor in the next movie.  Sarah Harrison and Paije Richardson would also return in Movie #5, as students of  unspecified houses.  Natalie Hallam, who plays Professor Sinistra, would also be back.  Lisa Osmond is a Quidditch Supporter here, but plays a Gringotts Goblin in both Sorcerer's Stone and Deathly Hallows 2.  Paul Davies makes his first of four appearances as a Death Eater.

Lucy-Anne Brooks, a Beauxbaton Student here, was a Factory Worker in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.  Campbell Graham was Hamish in the Bridget Jones movies and is a Ministry Wizard here.

Dr. Who reveals his nefarious scheme to turn Cedric Diggory into a vampire.

The 40 Year Old Virgin

The 40 Year Old Virgin (no hyphens originally)
August 19, 2005
Universal
Comedy, Romance
DVD
B-

I went back and forth between a B and a B- on this, because when the movie is good, it's very good, as in the Hair tribute at the end.  And I didn't want to be overly influenced by hindsight, that the Judd Apatow weaknesses which would be more obvious in subsequent films, from Knocked Up to Trainwreck, are evident here, in his first theatrical release.  But the truth is, the crude humor has not aged well, that what was shocking but funny a decade ago is now just gross and at best mildly amusing.  Also, far too much time is spent with the male bonding and the false leads that the title character (played by Steve Carell) faces in his search to no longer be a virgin, and not enough on the genuinely sweet romance between Carell and Catherine Keener.

And I do have to say that the main Apatow weakness is a tendency to contrast "bad behavior" with personally conservative behavior and have the latter win out, but only after we've sat through a lot of swearing, drinking, dope-smoking, homophobia, and women being treated as bitches and ho's.  In this case, the virgin loses his virginity on his wedding night.  (In Knocked Up, an unplanned pregnancy between two incompatible strangers leads to marriage, while in Trainwreck what would've once been called a party girl learns the error of her wicked ways and of course embraces monogamy.)  If you want to make an old-fashioned story, fine, but this isn't the 1920s and I get tired of the morality plays where the audience is shown the worst of wildness and then we get a Hays Code ending, like these are the only two possibilities.  That said, it's not as bad here, and the virgin does end up with a "hot grandma" who brings out the best in him, not exactly the usual Hollywood ending, in the 20th or 21st centuries.

And the male bonding does have chemistry of a different sort (even if the guys, even "sensitive" David, played by Paul Rudd) keep gay-baiting each other.  (And not that this is never funny.  The "spinach dip in a loaf of sourdough bread" line is still golden.)  Carell, Rudd, Romany Malco (who would be Oscar in Baby Mama), and Seth Rogen play off of each other well.  And Jane Lynch, as their boss, also has some great lines, mostly improv apparently.  Overall, the movie is still worth watching but I don't know that I would buy it again, given the choice.

Marilyn Dodds Frank was Alison's Mom in High Fidelity and is Woman Who Bought Television here.  Wayne Federman was an Admissions Guy in Legally Blonde and is a Smart Tech Customer here.  Carla Gallo is Toe-Sucking Girl here and would be Zooey's Friend in I Love You, Man.  Joseph A. Nuñez is Man Buffing Floor here and would be Oscar the Security Guard in Bridesmaids, while Nancy Carell is Health Clinic Counselor here and would be Helen's Tennis Partner there.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
July 15, 2005
Warner Bros.
Children's, Musical, Fantasy
DVD
C

I don't think it's just that I'm Gen X is the reason why I enjoy this less than the 1971 Gene Wilder version.  I can see flaws in the earlier version and I would argue that there are three ways that this is actually an improvement.  The songs, taking Roald Dahl's original verse and pairing with a wide variety of styles (including disco!), are much better here.  Related to that, I prefer Tim Burton's Oompa-Loompas, including the device of them all being played by one man (through the magic of CGI).  Also, Charlie's family (including Burton's wife Helena Bonham Carter as Charlie's mum) is generally more likable here.  (Although the one dotty grandmother is mildly annoying.)

However, it is with Willy Wonka and his home life that Burton goes seriously awry.  Wilder played Wonka with a twinkle in his eye but he was also genuinely scary at some points.  Johnny Depp plays Wonka as both creepy and insecure, and we get several back-story flashbacks to his childhood with his candy-hating father.  Ten years ago, I found this to be psychobabbling derailment, and my opinion hasn't changed.  Can't Wonka just be inexplicably weird, rather than someone who just needs love and acceptance?

Also, with the exception of Freddie Highmore who's quite good as Charlie (and would do a bunch of other adaptations of children's books, none of which I own, but some of which I've seen), none of the children are as good as the '71 cast.  The parents are mostly forgettable, although Missi Pyle as Mrs. Beauregarde gives it her usual perky/crazy touch.  As for the look of the film, I'd say the movies are about equally good.

Nayef Rashed, under the name Adam Hussein, was Mohamad the Camel Seller in Ishtar and here appears as a Moroccan Market Vendor.  Nitin Ganatra, who was so memorable as Bride & Prejudice's Mr. Kohli, has a much smaller role here as Prince Pondicherry.

There are some minor Harry Potter connections.  Harry Taylor, who's the Station Guard in the first two movies, appears briefly as Mr. Gloop.  Lucy-Anne Brooks is a Factory Worker here and would soon be a Beauxbaton Student in Goblet of Fire.  Ray Donn had very small roles in both Bridget Jones movies, is a policeman here, and would be a Ministry of Magic Panel Member in Order of the Phoenix.  Brigitte Millar, who's a Journalist here, would be Emmeline Vance in Order of the Phoenix.  Tony Kirwood, who's Finckelgruber, would be a Death Eater in both parts of Deathly Hallows.

Kinsey

Kinsey
November 12, 2004
Fox etc.
Drama, Historical
VHS (the last in my movie collection)
B-

While I think  Liam Neeson, as the title character, and Laura Linney, as Clara "Mac" McMillen Kinsey, give great performances here, aging convincingly from their 20s into their 50s or 60s, this movie is too depressing (especially in the second half) for me to give it a higher grade.  Furthermore, while the passage of time (not just the characters aging, but various period details) is well done, there is a feeling that the movie tries to take on too much, tries to condense one complex life, and the lives related to it, into two hours.  Still, I have never seen a Hollywood film address such issues as bisexuality and polyamory somewhat sympathetically.  On the other hand, the film is appropriately clinical in its approach to sex, so even the nudity and simulated sex acts are not particularly arousing.  I actually thought the sexiest moment is when Alfred and Mac try not to let his parents overhear them being silly in bed.

Nearly 30 years after The Big Bus, Lynn Redgrave is almost unrecognizable in the small but pivotal role of Final Interview Subject.  And Don Sparks, the Prince in 1978's Fairy Tales, is somewhat recognizable as the Middle-Aged Businessman.  Kate Jennings Grant, who was Kennedy in The Object of My Affection, is Marjorie Hartford here.  Joe Badalucco, who was Construction Foreman in Two Weeks Notice, is Radio Repairman here.  Heather Goldenhersh was Sheila in School of Rock and is Martha Pomeroy here.

Not the usual triangle

Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason

Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason
November 19, 2004
Universal/ Miramax
Comedy, Drama, Romance
DVD
C

The faults of Bridget Jones 1-- notably the manipulative soundtrack and directing choices-- are even stronger here in the three-years-later-made but set-the-following-year sequel.  (And Bridget is now born in '72, which makes her a year younger than last time.)  Renée Zellweger as Jones is back, as are her two men, Colin Firth as Mark Darcy and Hugh Grant as Daniel Cleaver.  And so are a whole bunch of mostly under-used perfomers, among them Jim Broadbent and Gemma Jones as Bridget's parents; James Callis, Shirley Henderson, and Sally Phillips as Bridget's friends; James Faulkner and Celia Imrie as Geoffrey and Una Alconbury; Neil Pearson as Richard Finch (Bridget's boss at Sit Up, Britain); Donald Douglas as Admiral (formerly just Mr.) Darcy; and Dominic McHale as Bernard.  I was pleased that Phillips as Shazzer (looking quite fetching, especially in a Beatles cap) has more to do this time, but at that, even she disappears for chunks of the movie at a time.

What we're left with is a mix of unfunny slapstick and uneven drama.  Although the film is ostensibly (and Austensibly, this time influenced by Persuasion) about what happens after Happily Ever After, it's never really that convincing that Bridget and Mark are happy together.  So it's hard to care when they have a pregnancy scare or break up.  And when Daniel returns, it seems she may as well get off (and go off) with him instead.  I almost went with a C- on this, but I don't think it's bad, just disappointing.  And at that, it's sort of nice to see everyone again, although I wish they'd been given more to work with.  (I've read but don't own the book this is based on, although at the time of my reading blog I thought I did.)

Ray Donn was a Limo Driver in Bride & Prejudice, is a customer here, and would be a Policeman in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.  Campbell Graham returns as Hamish and would be a Ministry Wizard in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire,  while Sam Beazley is Very Old Man here and would be Everard in Order of the Phoenix, and Jessica Stevenson is Magda here and would be the voice of Mafalda Hopkirk in Phoenix.  Tom Brooke, who plays a Production Assistant, would be Thick Kevin in Pirate Radio.

Bride & Prejudice

Bride & Prejudice
October 8, 2004
Miramax etc.
Romance, Musical, Comedy
DVD
B

This has obvious, surface similarities to Monsoon Wedding (2001) in that both are about large families living in modern-day India, and both films show the influence of Bollywood.  Also, as the titles suggest, weddings are important in both stories, although Wedding covers a shorter span of time, just the days leading up to and including a wedding, while here, in the Jane-Austen-inspired plot, much more attention is paid to how couples get together, and how they are sometimes separated, perhaps temporarily, perhaps not.  Besides the change in settings (not just India, but also London and L.A.), and such touches as email, the major differences from Pride and Prejudice are that Mr. Kohli is much more sympathetic (if still very comical) and the exact nature of Wickham's seductions and attempts is changed.  Other changes, such as the omission of Kitty Bennet, serve to streamline the movie, as the omission of various characters did in Sense & Sensibility (1995).

This came out shortly before the Keira Knightley P & P.  As with Paltrow's Emma vs. Clueless, I prefer the movie that is stylistically less faithful but more truly faithful to the spirit of the original novel.  The themes and the essence of the Austen novel are captured well, but there's also, particularly in the first third of the movie, a lot of what one song calls "color, light, and sound," the same dazzling elements seen in Monsoon, but with much better music.  The definite stand-out is "No Life Without Wife," where the four pajama-clad sisters are playful, romantic, and, well, sisterly, and the song is very catchy to boot.

Aishwarya Rai as Lalita (the Lizzy equivalent) is almost too perfect: witty and clever of course, but also devastatingly beautiful and of course musically talented, including playing the guitar.  She's also both feminist and proudly traditionally Indian.  In contrast, Martin Henderson as Will Darcy (equivalent to guess who) is a little bland.  It's a romance where I don't mind the main couple getting together but I don't feel terribly invested in it.  Luckily, as in the original novel, there are so many interesting side characters that it doesn't ultimately matter.

Napoleon Dynamite

Napoleon Dynamite
August 27, 2004
Fox
Comedy
DVD
B

While this movie remains unique in its deadplan blend of Idahoisms and '80sishness, I can in retrospect see it in a line with, for instance, Juno (2007), although that is a higher-budget, bigger-names film.  (If the most recognizable members of your cast are a second-banana from The Drew Carey Show and Hilary Duff's sister, then it's fair to say you're working with unknowns.)  Like other teen comedies of its time (not just indy of course, I'm including Mean Girls in this), its quotability led to many memes then and later.  However, much of the movie can't simply be conveyed in the lines; the line-readings and facial expressions (especially the more stilted ones) also matter.

Watching the movie again, I was struck by how innocent it is.  The swearing is deliberately mild (on a "geez" level), and the violence is not at all graphic.  Even the romances, such as they are, wouldn't be out of place in a pre-teen movie.  I think this reflects Napoleon's own innocence.  The movie generally presents a world that fits Napoleon's perceptions, like his views of friendship and revenge.  One touch I like is that he and his relatives believe that time travel is possible, when it's 2004 and they're all surrounded by the trappings of the '80s, including the soundtrack.  Overall, I don't find the movie hilarious or profound, but its quirkiness is endearing, and I like that the characters finally smile towards the end.

Fahrenheit 9/11

Fahrenheit 9/11
June 25, 2004
Dog Eat Dog
Documentary
DVD
B-

Although this movie starts out very well, with a look at the 2000 Presidential Election and some of the events leading up to September 11, 2001, I don't think it sustains that promising beginning.  Too often this Michael Moore movie gets sidetracked into minutiae, like exactly what the ties of money and friendship were between the Bush family and the Bin Laden family.  (Both Presidents Bush, as well as Clinton, appear here, as they did in Bowling for Columbine.)  I also felt that it could've done more with the subject handled in Columbine of how the government and the news media play on Americans' fears for their own profit.  The movie is nonetheless worth a look, revisiting that time that we're still dealing with the consequences of, a dozen years or more later.  And I will say that Moore's ego seems less out of control than in the previous film; he's better able to step back and let others tell their stories.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
June 4, 2004
Warner Bros.
Fantasy, Drama, Comedy
DVD
A-

The Harry Potter regulars this time include (*means newbie to the series):

1. Peter Best as the Executioner*
2. David Bradley as Argus Filch
3. Robbie Coltrane as Rubeus Hagrid
4. Violet Columbus as Girl With Flowers
5. Warwick Davis as "Wizard" (see below)
6. Alfred Enoch as Dean Thomas
7. Tom Felton as Draco Malfoy
8. Michael Gambon as Albus Dumbledore*
9. Richard Griffiths as Uncle Vernon
10. Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley
11. Josh Herdman as Gregory Goyle
12. Matthew Lewis as Neville Longbottom
13. Harry Melling as Dudley Dursley
14. Devon Murray as Seamus Finnegan
15. Gary Oldman as Sirius Black*
16. James Phelps as Fred Weasley
17. Oliver Phelps as George Weasley
18. Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter
19. Chris Rankin as Percy Weasley
20. Adrian Rawlins as James Potter
21. Fiona Shaw as Aunt Petunia
22. Geraldine Somerville as Lily Potter
23. Timothy Spall as Peter Pettigrew*
24. Danielle Tabor as Angelina Johnson
25. David Thewlis as Remus Lupin*
26. Mark Williams as Arthur Weasley
27. Emma Watson as Hermione Granger
28. Jamie Waylett as Vincent Crabbe
29. Bonnie Wright as Ginny Weasley

In addition, Emma Thompson joins the cast as spacey Professor Trelawney.  (Which strengthens the Potter-Austen axis of course.)  This blend of old and new, including the shift of director Chris Columbus over to a producer role, so that the director's chair is filled by Alfonso Cuarón, really impacts the series.  As with Thompson's Sense & Sensibility, having a director whose first language is not English seems to both bring out the universality of what is a very British story and add an outsider's view.  

My review of the book is here
http://rereadingeverybookiown.blogspot.com/2013/11/harry-potter-and-prisoner-of-azkaban.html, but you'll note that I don't regard this as a children's movie in the way that that was a children's book.  This is very much a movie about a younger teen and his two best friends starting to really navigate their way through a more complex world.  The switch in directors also contributes to a less wide-eyed, warier tone.

As for that jump from B to A-, well, I thought then and continue to think that this is not only the best film in the series, but the only one that is on a level with The Wizard of Oz.  Everything is better-- the special effects, the acting, and the music in particular.  (Williams captures all the moods, from bittersweet to whimsical.)  Even the closing credits are much more creative than elsewhere in the series.

Radcliffe is making more effort, not always successfully ("HE WAS THEIR FRIEND" is notorious in fandom), but much better than under Columbus, while Grint and Watson continue to be solid, even as puberty complicates their bickering relationship.  And all the Gambon-bashers who are bitter about the loss of Richard Harris should take another look at his work here, which is much subtler and deeper than in the fourth film.  I also have to make special mention of Thewlis, who is just perfect as the avuncular but flawed Professor Lupin.  The only person who seems to be short-changed is poor Bonnie Wright with her one line as Ginny.  And the only one who is oddly treated is Warwick Davis, who apparently had nothing to do as Flitwick this time and so became the Choir Teacher, which would have a long-lasting effect on the appearance and to some degree character of Flitwick for the rest of the series, as I'll discuss under Goblet.

As for the special effects, it's partly that the CGI and other aspects had two and a half years to advance, but also that Cuarón and his crew are being more creative with them, as with the utterly believable Buckbeak, the Hippogriff who expresses everything from anger to affection to, well, defecation.

Interestingly, when I first saw the trailer for this entry, I had almost the opposite reaction to the trailer for the first.  I thought they'd really screwed up this time.  So it was a revelation when I saw the actual movie, which, yes, has a tone that takes some getting used to but is well worth the initial disorientation.  (And that the film starts with a tasteful masturbation joke was part of the surprise.)  I think the movie continues to hold up remarkably well, both within the series and as a stand-alone.  I was always disappointed that Cuarón did not return, but David Yates would make contributions of his own.  As for Mike Newell, well, stay tuned.

New York Minute

New York Minute
May 7, 2004
Warner Bros.
Comedy, Action
VHS
C+

This is so bad it's almost watchable.  Not that there isn't a lot to wince at, including some generally unfunny racism, but the whole thing is so implausible, it makes Spice World look carefully crafted.  There is a lot more plot here, and subplots, but the whole thing is so full of WTF moments that I'm going to try to limit myself to ten.  (At the time, I wrote a very lengthy review/inventory, listing about 70 cliches, stereotypes, and implausibilities.)

1. Why did they steal the dad as gynecologist father of two very different sisters thing from 10 Things I Hate About You? And then cast Dr. Drew and have there be no pay-off, plotwise or otherwise?
2. Why, after all the attempts to distinguish between Mary-Kate and Ashley, is there a section where they wear matching outfits?
3. Why does the more conservative twin keep ending up implied-nude?
4. Why is Jack Osbourne attempting an American accent, and not very consistently either?
5. Why, if you have a purple VW Bug, would you try to take the train into New York, especially since you don't have a ticket or any plan beyond hiding in the restroom?
6. Why is there a running motif of people getting things spilled on them?
7. Why does a small dog take an entire day and yet fail to crap out a secret microchip, and why doesn't anyone think to take it to the vet?
8. How is that Jane wins a scholarship on the basis of the notes for her speech?
9. If time is of the essence, shouldn't one version of a makeover at the House of Bling (no, I am not making that up) be sufficient?
10. How could they cast Andrea Martin as Senator Anne Lipton (owner of the dog) and Eugene Levy as a truant officer and give the SCTV-ers only one moment together?

Trust me, this is just the tip of the iceberg, and I haven't even mentioned the Bob Saget cameo.

Jon Benjamin, who's the "I Love NY" Vendor, had provided the voice of the Can of Vegetables in Wet Hot American Summer (a role he'll be reprising on the TV series). This time animal-voice-actor Frank Welker provides Reinaldo Vocal Effects.  Jo Chim, who's got a very small role as Ma Bang's Assistant, had recently been the snooty Salesperson in Mean Girls.

Pre-bling

Mid-bling

Corporate bling

Mean Girls

Mean Girls
April 30, 2004
Paramount
Comedy
DVD
B+

This may well be the most heavily quoted movie on the Internet.  (Mean Girls/ Harry Potter cross-over memes alone make up a good percentage.)  As such, it's a little hard to watch now because I kept waiting for various lines to come up.  That said, the script by 33-year-old Tina Fey, who plays Math teacher Ms. Norbury, remains not only witty but surprisingly complex, and not just for a teen movie.  Yes, there are such obligatory moments as the makeover and the Girl Vomits on Her Crush, but I like that the movie is willing to show the "mean girl" in every girl (and some of the guys), including our heroine, played by a pre-off-the-rails Lindsay Lohan.  Lohan as Cady (from Cady Woodlawn I wonder?) isn't afraid to play a complex, not always likable character who genuinely does suffer for her choices and make amends (unlike Drew Barrymore in Never Been Kissed).

It's also great how the supporting and even minor characters (you go, Glenn Coco!) all have chances to shine.  I'll note two performers in particular, since we'll be seeing more of them.  Amy Poehler at 32 is a little young to be playing a mother of a teenager, but it is a scene-stealing role and one of her great comic performances.  She and her SNL costar and friend Fey would often reunite, notably (for the purposes of this blog anyway) in 2008's Baby Mama.  And 18-year-old Amanda Seyfried, who plays dumb blonde Karen, would have much more opportunity to show off her wonderful singing voice in later movies, including Mamma Mia! (also '08).

Bruce Hunter was NSA Agent #1 in Good Will Hunting and is the Mathlete Moderator here.
William R. Phillips was Man at Diner in Romy and Michele and is a Student here, so he presumably looked young for his age.  Jo Chim, who plays the Saleswoman at 135, would soon be Ma Bang's Assistant in New York Minute.