Reviews (431)

A solid action/espionage movie that does not insult the mind
I did not see this movie when it first came out as I am getting tired of the summer extravaganzas that try to outdo one another with how many more explosions they can generate than what is playing in the next theatre. Notwithstanding, I decided to give it a shot as I loved the energy and pacing of director Doug Liman's "Go," and also liked the comedic edge and freshness that he brought to his debut ("Swingers"). I was still somewhat apprehensive as taut and original action thrillers are very hard to come by as most current movies couple the violence with buddy comedy elements that take away from a genre that has only been successfully executed by Steven Spielberg in his wildly entertaining "Minority Report". But I digress.

Since I hate it when reviewers give too much away, I will only say that Matt Damon stars as Jason Bourne (or is he?), a barely alive amnesiac with a pair of bullet wounds in his back, pulled from the Mediterranean by Italian fishermen. The scene itself is very exciting and draws you into it's web. Bourne's only clue to his own identity is a bank account number etched on a capsule implanted in his body. What follows gets very complicated and keeps you on the edge of your seat as other summer extravaganzas seem to fail to. Like its summer "cousins", the movie has action scenes, guns, explosions, an awesome car chase (that relies more on execution than on how many cars can explode), a potential love interest, and many of the usual suspects, BUT it entertains and I did not feel like checking my watch every 5 minutes. Is it Oscar material? Heck no, but within its own genre its one of the year's best.

Matt Damon, who I never quite appreciate, would seem to be miscast to play this type of character, but he is actually quite perfect is he tones it down and makes Jason Bourne almost seem like an everyman who slowly discovers that he has skills he never knew he had. The casting department should be proud of itself as it cast Franka Potente (from "Run Lola Run") as the main female protagonist. The actress is not your cookie cutter beauty nor has the marquee appeal that I am sure the producers would have liked to have a "name" for the role; but someone realized that her acting chops and international background would give the movie some grounding as her character is supposed to be a European gypsy woman who I could not see being played by say Julia Roberts.

The director does a great job in both action and character driven scenes and manages to bring excitement to a gray winter European exteriors and drab interior settings. With the exception of the first fight sequence (which is makes Damon look like he has superhero powers) and later what would seem to be a physically impossible shoot out, everything feels real and the violence is not stylized. The story is incredibly well paced and even the smaller roles are well cast. The only exception is Julia Stiles, who I hope was only a victim of some scenes winding up on the cutting room floor, as she's a talented actress who brings not a thing to this movie.

In a nutshell, this movie is about international intrigue and one man's refusal to be a pawn in some sinister, global chess game. Many things feel improbable but never less than engrossing. Also, the basic premise is not played for laughs (which I enjoyed as I am sick of tongue in cheek homages that use humor as a cop out) and the plot (once fully exposed) for once does not involve a "brilliant" psychopath with either a desire to take over the world or get even for ______ (fill in the blank with your favorite cliché). This movie solidly earns its 4 stars as a nice version of what I'd like to see in summer extravaganzas.

Action plus romance on the run
Greek sailors find a man floating in the Med sea, take him in, and their doc finds a couple bullet holes in his back, as well as a laser capsule in his leg with a Swiss bank account number. The man recovers, but suffers from amnesia. Thus begins his quest to regain his identity. Only, when he opens the security box in Switzerland, he discovers passports from half a dozen countries, wads of cash in various currencies, loads of cool spy gear, and a gun.
Soon the chase is on, from Zurich to Paris, as our man Bourne enlists the help of the German gypsy Marie (charming Franka Potente) and eludes the operatives sent by his CIA superiors until a stunning conclusion when he returns to Paris.
What I liked:
Great setting details of Europe, especially Paris. There were a number of key action sequences, including a car chase involving a Mini taking on French police, and the wildest stairway descent I've ever seen on film. I also thought Matt Damon and Franka Potente had good screen chemistry. There was also a moving scene where Bourne confronts one the assassins on his trail, the professor, played by Clive Owen in a small part.
What needed work:
The hero with amnesia card has been played before, and I would have liked a little more development of Damon's character other than him realizing he had all these drilled in spy skills. We never do get a sense of his likes and dislikes. I liked the film ending over the alternate version, but both could have been better.
This is a movie I would watch again.

Bourne Conspiracy
Okay, I'm writing this because I feel that I've been burned. I just purchased the 2004(?) re-release of this DVD and I was very disappointed. The package describes an "explosive extended edition" and "includes an all-new beginning and ending". I've got to admit that I loved the movie when it was in the theatres, and am happy that it is now in my collection, but I never would have bought it had I known the hype was so lame. The 'explosive' new beginning and ending were NOT, and really add nothing to the movie (I won't 'spoil' the 'surprise' for those die-hard fans). Plus they couch the reasons for excluding them from the theatrical release in some 9/11 mumbo-jumbo that was not clearly defined enough to understand. I think it's just a marketing ploy. If you're looking for a major addition to the original in this new release...please say, "I wasn't Bourne yesterday!"

Thrilling, Exciting, Spies Among Us!
Robert Ludlum wrote "The Bourne Identity" in the 1980's and it is the quintessential "spy" story. It is a thriller and the characters are so rich and well drawn.

A man is dragged from the sea. He has two bullet wounds and a "chip" embedded into his body. These are removed; the man recovers from this ordeal. He does not, however, remember anything, His name, where he is from from and his entire identity has been lost. He takes the chip and goes in search of himself. In a bank in Zurich he finds his identity- Jason Bourne and several other passports and lots of money. Enough information for Jason Bourne to change his identity whenever he needs to. But what does this mean? It appears to mean that many people are after Jason Bourne, that he has information that many people want or they want this information to die!! Around every corner is danger and there is no one that he can trust. He meets up with two CIA analysts who appear to be trustworthy, but are they really? He travels all over Europe and changes identities at every turn. He meets very interesting people at every turn. His life is full of risk and danger. Jason Bourne is an important person with so much hidden information that he doesn't remember. But as time goes on, the people he meets share some of what he is missing, and he is beginning to put the pieces together. He begins a love affair, and he thinks this is what he has been looking for. Why can't he be happy as a single man leaving the "spy" profession and finding his true love?

The movie stars Matt Damon as Jason Bourne, and he does a credible job. The action filming is wonderfully done. The car chases and the flights on foot and in trains are very real and I felt I was amongst them. I was part of the action!! Franke Potente plays Jason Bourne's love interest. Chris Cooper is the enemy and as always is a star- a cruel man who completes his job. The scenery is fantastic and brilliant. What I did miss in this movie that was not transposed from the book, is the storyline of Carlos, The Jackal. This is an important part of the book, and is not in the movie at all. Jason Bourne and Carlos have much admiratiion for each other even though they are sworn enemies. This is a significant loss, and the movie does not have the drama, background and richness of the book. This is, however, a movie to be enjoyed- I understand the sequel, "The Bourne Supremacy" is out this week. A Must See. prisrob

It Got Bouring At Times.
First off let me silence the critics, Matt Damon was very good in this movie. I don't always care for the " cat and mouse" routine plotted into movies. This movie is not any acception. The pace is very long and dry, and when there is an action sequence, it is very brief. The plot itself is very good, but very herky-jerky. You could get lost if you miss some of the movie. The ending is fair, and I doubt that I will go and see the next segment to this series "The Bourne Supremacy." A fair time filler, but nothing to write home to mommy about. ... Read more

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Ocean's Eleven improves on 1960's Rat Pack original with supernova casting, a slickly updated plot, and Steven Soderbergh's graceful touch behind the camera. Soderbergh reportedly relished the opportunity "to make a movie that has no desire except to give pleasure from beginning to end," and he succeeds on those terms, blessed by the casting of George Clooney as Danny Ocean, the title role originated by Frank Sinatra. Fresh out of jail, Ocean masterminds a plot to steal $163 million from the seemingly impervious vault of Las Vegas's Bellagio casino, not just for the money but to win his ex-wife (Julia Roberts) back from the casino's ruthless owner (Andy Garcia). Soderbergh doesn't scrimp on the caper's comically intricate strategy, but he finds greater joy in assembling a stellar team (including Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Don Cheadle, and Carl Reiner) and indulging their strengths as actors. The result is a film that's as smooth as a silk suit and just as stylish. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (510)

Shallow "Ocean" Needs More Depth.
Steven Soderbergh adds a stylishly slick film to his roster with this re-make of the 1960 rat-pack Frank Sinatra outing. ................ Although the cast was terrific, with dialogue sharply delivered by top billing box office stars, as well as veterans Carl Reiner and Elliot Gould in amusing roles, something is missing within. That something is true character development. Despite all the aforementioned positives, this missing element takes away a dimension from the story. Who are these people? Roberts was married to Clooney before he was sent to prison, but I couldn't find the emotion between them until the very end of the film. There didn't seem to be much fire between Roberts and Andy Garcia's elusive, cold and non-descript character either. Garcia is a favorite of mine, but he doesn't shine with his usual warm, emotional performance here. ................. Julia Roberts, Brad Pitt? I never really got a good idea of any of them. So, despite the fantastic ensemble cast, exciting Vegas atmosphere, intriguing premise and Soderbergh's expert direction, this "Ocean..." left me somewhat dry. ............... While "Ocean's 11" is a movie that will certainly entertain you fleetingly as you view it, the desired effect while we watch, it's not one I'd see again and again. There are films that you know you can view repeatedly without tiring of them, and then some where you say, once IS enough. In my opinion, "Ocean's 11" falls into the latter category. ................ For me, character development is an important factor that makes a film realistic and believable, but if it is not integral for your enjoyment, I would not hesitate to recommend you catch this wave once too, at least for the positives it DOES have going for it.

Take it on its own, it's a very good film.
George Clooney, Brat Pitt, Matt Damon, Casey Affleck, Scott Caan, Don Cheadle, Elliott Gould, Bernie Mac, Carl Reiner, Edward Jemison and Shaobo Qin are all brought together in one of the best ensemble cast films I have seen in a long time. That takes care of Ocean's Eleven (Danny Ocean played by Clooney) but they are matched against Andy Garcia & Julia Roberts. Steve Soderbergh (Traffic; Sex, Lies & Videotape) directs a masterpiece of action/drama with some of the biggest names in the business.

The mystique of Vegas, the lure of cash and the romance of life make this a film for everyone. Great dialogue, excellent dramatic shots from Soderbergh and incredible acting by the entire cast put most other crime based movies to shame. Andy Garcia makes you hate him, you feel for George Clooney, but you also see the reasoning in Pitt's character and Reiner's performace is great too.

Anyway, if you enjoy the James Bond movies, the Mission Impossible movies, or any other fun action films, you should give Oceans 11 a chance. DO NOT base your viewing of this on the original Sinatra and the Rat Pack film. The only similarities are the ensemble cast, Vegas Casinos, money and the title of the movie. This is not a remake, it is a reinterpretation based loosely on the original script. At least give it one viewing, you may fall in love.

yet another example............
Hollywood has managed in this film to once again show
how really great it is to be a thief.....And they managed to use, in my estimation, the top worst to do it.
Clooney, who always portrays himself in no matter what role he takes...Pitt who walks thru his role like a zombie throwing in one liners to make it interesting???? And let's not forget the token female, Roberts, who I am still trying to figure out how she can be the most beautiful woman in the world, or is it one of the top five in the world? I forget......
The only redeeming thing about this film was the presence of Garcia and maybe the Las Vegas location. I have no plans to see the sequel as I am sure it will be more of the same humdrum
as this turkey was. To me it was just as boring as the original one only an updated version.

mediocre, boring, pathced
1. Difficult to imagine such boring movie with so many stars. The very presence of Julia Roberts only slowed the action, and took precious time from the main action. Her role was schematic and straightforward: could have used some young, beautiful actress instead, and spend less time on her. At the end, it was not clear to me, why did she have to leave Benedict and return to Ocean. Benedict could have said anything he wanted to Ocean to get his money back.

2. Most of the characters remained obscure and flat. I had to watch it 2 times in a raw to just figure out their faces, but I still have no clue what was their crucial point in the action. Compare to "Sneakers" for example, where all characters were vivid and exactly on their places.

3. Il-logical sequence. Why not use larger O2 cylinder for the chinese guy (what was his name?) and have more time for surprises? Why did they need to introduce the explosives with a trunk and bother with "dying" of the Soul Blum/Zorga, why not simply put them in the container with the chinese fellow? When climbing down the elevator well, where was the elevator cell???
If it was UP, how did they got under it?

4. How easy was to steel the "pinch"!!! Just went there and got it! I want a pinch also. But, even if the pinch did black-out the whole city, how come the electricity came back so soon??? The EM pulse destroys fuses and inegrated circuits. The whole casion going completely black? Highly improbable: This is 21 century, USA guys. Safety comes first: Every public and comercial building has a few light bulbs that never go out. Just for cases like this. Same for the motion detectors in the elevator well: they should be UPS-ed. Unlike the batteries in the remote control triger of Brad Pitt.

5. Illogical: How did they get the porno-adds INSIDE the vault? There were 6 big bags of them, the ones that got blown-up at the end?

6. Who needed to show that a whole minivan can be driven from a distance by a remote control? Why give the terorists (and bank robbers wannabe) ideas they can use literally tomorrow???

All made-up from bits and pieces, turned out into a poorly connected patched movie. Boring and un-impressing.

I wasn't impressed.....
I heard great things about this movie, and it did very well at the box office, but it really wasn't that good. it was definitely confusing. Also, I didn't like how it only had one robbery. In movies like Bandits (which you should go see) there are several robberies. Also, there wasn't much character development. I reccoment Bandits instead. ... Read more

Reviews (1130)

Saving Private Ryan DVD: Definitive Movie on D-Day
This was an awe-inspiring, horrific and honest portrayal of the D-Day landing and the extraordinary sacrifices made by ordinary individuals. Spielberg's hand-held in your face film technique immerses the viewer into the action. Without a doubt, Speilberg's depiction of the landing on Normandy Beach is one the most intense battle scenes ever filmed.

It is no less than a sheer masterpiece of filmaking. It is a well-researched, authentic anti-war statement that stands as a tribute to those individuals who endured horrific circumstances and literally saved the free world from tyranny.

Saving Private Ryan accomplishes what Schindler's list did in regard to the holocaust and what Oliver Stone's Platoon accomplished in its statement on Vietnam.

In addition, Spielberg has not only paid a deserving tribute to the veterans of World War II, he has also produced an excellent anti-war film that deglorifies warfare. There was nothing romantic about being butchered on the battlefield. If there is a hell, the D-Day veterans have already been there.

Saving Private Ryan is without a doubt one of the most honest, realistic combat movies ever made. Although Spielberg may not have gotten it all down in regard to the war with Germany; his depiction in regard to Normandy Beach and D-Day are right on target!

A terrifically powerful film
"Saving Private Ryan" is probably the best World War 2 movie ever made. The cast is excellent, and the cinematography unparalleled. The use of the hand-held, filtered camera during the battle scenes brings Capa's D-Day photographs to life. The story is simple--eight men are sent to find another soldier behind enemy lines--yet powerful by that very virtue. It is full of brilliant cinematic moments, such as the segueway after the horrific opening D-Day sequence: The screen goes blank for a second, and we hear the layered sounds of typewriters clicking like machine guns as Army typists write next of kin letters...Raindrops falling, then falling faster and dissolving into the sound of gunfire...
Throughout the film, we are shown many aspects of combat: the depersonalization which occurs in battle (Hanks' Captain Miller staring paralyzed at the carnage around him on the Normandy beach for a moment, then stoically replacing his blood-filled helmet); the tragedy of a single death (Giovanni Ribisi's Wade calling for his mother as he dies--the most realistic and moving depiction of death in cinema, to me...); heroism and cowardice. The music is great, the characters vividly drawn, the historical details perfect.

Steven Spielberg made this film as a tribute to his father, who served as a radio operator in the Pacific theater. His first film, made when he was thirteen, was a war story (in which he was allowed to use real airplanes at a nearby airbase for some of the shots). He'd been thinking of making a big film like this for a long time, and it is rewarding to watch.

Surprisingly impressive, stands out among war movies
Most of us expect a low-rate, pointless and overall tacky war movie from today's money-hungry industry, but SPR has done well in distancing itself from our presumptions. If you've never seen it before, than you'll be surprised at how well the movie is puit together. Aside from the usual modern-day method of pumping a movie full of A-List actors, a predictable script, less-than-impressive direction, irrelevent acting, and the overall novelty that one can come to expect of supposed dramas of today's glamour industry.

The story follows Captain John H. Miller and his team, including a sniper, a medic, an Arab, a surly private, and an acceptable Vin Diesel, to rescue James F. Ryan, a private in a paratrooper squad whose three brothers have been killed in action. A mission susceptible to much protest, and ultimately one that will cost many lives.

Everything about the movies feels as if it was done right. The overall atmosphere feels right, and it makes you feel as if you're sitting inside the movie--you can almost feel the moisture of the air seething through your clothes or the subtle sunshine warm your shoulders and forehead. The acting is very good as well, although you can spot some parts where improvement wouldn't hurt and it at times feels tacky and stunted. The direction is done well, as the actors can easily pass as soldiers, but the aforementioned cut corners could bring you away from the total immersion and feeling.

Saving Private Ryan is very worthwhile, and any war movie buff in his right mind would praise it as innovative and a revival of the genre.

Guts and gory
Does anyone still believe WWII was the good war, and that cynicism, spin control and U.S. brutality were born in Vietnam? If so, Steven Spielberg's visceral re-creation of the Secend World War experience will be a shocker: The film's battle scenes are anarchic, bloody, frenzied and studded with atrocious acts. Screenwriter Robert Rodat's script (based loosly on an actual incident and heavily indebted to historian Stephen Ambrose), however, sticks to familiar ground. Battled-scarred Captain Miller (Tom Hanks) is sent on a special mission to retrieve one Private Ryan (Matt Damon), who merits heric efforts because he's the sole survivor of four enlisted brothers, and his safe return is conceived as a home-front morale booster. Miller's hand-picked squadron is a checklist of war-movie types--hard-nosed sergeant (Tom Sizemore); decent private (Vin Diesel); Brooklyn wiseass (Edward Burns), introspective medic (Giovanni Ribsi); tough Jew (Adam Goldberg); pious Southern sharpshooter (Barry Pepper); and bookish corporal (Jeremy Davis) with no frontline experience--whose destinies follow a well-worn path. The exception is the GI who clings to the hope that war exposes the hidden strength in men, and instead has the worst wrenched out of him in a scene that elicits scattered applause but seems designed to evoke a mixture of pity and contempt. The movie's greatest strength lies in phenomenal performances that reach from the leads right down to the smallest supporting roles: Hanks' affability is worked under Miller's hardened skin, and Damon gives Ryan a boyish determination ans convincing as it is naive. Spielberg does some of his best work (the pointless preasent-day framing sequence notwithstanding), but follows in distinguished footsteps: Among the films that should'nt be lost in the rush to praise are Samuel Fuller's harrowing BIG RED ONE, whose credo--"The only glory in war is surviving"-- could be the movie's own.

You ARE There...
I watched SAVING PRIVATE RYAN not knowing what to expect. I'm not a big war movie fan, my taste running more toward horror / sci-fi / comedy. Within seconds I was totally engrossed in this all-too-real depiction of WW II. The bullets ripping men apart, the panic, the frantic kill-or-be-killed atmosphere, the almost continuous chaos, interrupted only briefly by spurts of calm, all added up to one joltingly great movie classic! Tom Hanks, Tom Sizemore, and every castmember is believable and human. There are no cigar-chomping superheroes in this story, just regular guys in an overwhelmingly dire situation (I felt like even I could be one of them). Spielberg tears off the sugary coating of the typical war film, revealing the squirming guts beneath. Pulling zero punches, he shows us war up close and disturbingly personal. Still, SPR is filled with warmth, humor, and that sense of brotherhood that would risk so much for one soldier. I love this movie and cannot recommend it highly enough... ... Read more

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Robin Williams won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor, and actors Matt Damon and Ben Affleck nabbed one for Best Original Screenplay, but the feel-good hit Good Will Hunting triumphs because of its gifted director, Gus Van Sant. The unconventional director (My Own Private Idaho, Drugstore Cowboy) saves a script marred by vanity and clunky character development by yanking soulful, touching performances out of his entire cast (amazingly, even one by Williams that's relatively schtick-free). Van Sant pulls off the equivalent of what George Cukor accomplished for women's melodrama in the '30s and '40s: He's crafted an intelligent, unabashedly emotional male weepie about men trying to find inner-wisdom.

Matt Damon stars as Will Hunting, a closet math genius who ignores his gift in favor of nightly boozing and fighting with South Boston buddies (co-writer Ben Affleck among them). While working as a university janitor, he solves an impossible calculus problem scribbled on a hallway blackboard and reluctantly becomes the prodigy of an arrogant MIT professor (Stellan Skarsgård). Damon only avoids prison by agreeing to see psychiatrists, all of whom he mocks or psychologically destroys until he meets his match in the professor's former childhood friend, played by Williams. Both doctor and patient are haunted by the past, and as mutual respect develops, the healing process begins. The film's beauty lies not with grand climaxes, but with small, quiet moments. Scenes such as Affleck's clumsy pep talk to Damon while they drink beer after work, or any number of therapy session between Williams and Damon offer poignant looks at the awkward ways men show affection and feeling for one another. --Dave McCoy ... Read more

Reviews (345)

JCMICHAELS.COM Good Will Hunting Review
Good Will Hunting is one of those films that I wasn't expecting much, since the writers, Ben Affleck and Matt Damon are so young. But surprisingly this young duo was able to write a sophisticated script that, with the direction of Gus Van Sant, became an Academy Award winner. Those awards, Best Supporting Actor and Best Original Screenplay definitely show the movies strong points. Unfortunately the acting is a little wooden and awkward at times, but is forgivable.

Luckily this movie has great bonus features including my favorite, audio commentary with Gus Van Sant, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. Also included are 11 deleted scenes with audio commentary, production featurette, and "Miss Misery" music video. In other words this DVD is loaded.

Overall, with all the bonus material and sophisticated story this is definitely a great rental. If on the other hand, you are huge fans of Ben and Matt, and have already seen it and loved the movie, then it really is a no-brainer, just buy it.

Beautiful, thought-provoking . . . perfect
This movie is either perfect, or as close as it's possible for a movie to be. The acting is outstanding. The direction is terrific. The script is heartfelt and real. The soundtrack, featuring Elliot Smith, is perfectly suited to the movie. All in all, it's one of the greatest movies I've ever seen, and it's my personal favorite.

Will Hunting (Matt Damon) is a janitor at MIT who harbors a secret genius for mathematics. Rather than bank on his intelligence, he spends most of his time riding around and drinking with his buddies (Ben Affleck, Cole Hauser, and a particularly funny and excellent Casey Affleck). However, his gift is discovered by a professor at the university (Stellan Skarsgard) who bails Will out of jail (in on a count of assault) on the conditions that he start doing math regularly with the professor and that he see a psychiatrist. Enter the psychiatrist, Sean (Robin Williams). To add to the mix, Will meets a Harvard student, Skylar (Minnie Driver) who is possibly the first woman for whom he's ever had real feelings. Over the course of the movie, all of these characters in their own way try to make Will live up to his potential.

The movie doesn't have much of a plot other than this -- however, that's fine, because it's meant to be more of a character study and it's a great one. Pretty much every scene is two people sitting down talking to each other -- yet it holds the viewer's interest because the characters are so captivating. Sean and Will's scenes in particular are terrific. Matt Damon and Robin Williams, besides both being fine actors, have a natural chemistry that you just can't fake. Damon and Minnie Driver are also great together (of course, as it's widely known, the two dated during the filming of the movie) and it's my opinion that both were robbed of their Oscars.

Ben Affleck shows that spark in this movie which he showed in most of his '90s movies, and he's great in his role -- but even better is his brother Casey. Watch the movie with the audio commentary, and you'll gain so much more appreciation for both the role of Morgan and the actor Casey. The same goes for Stellan Skarsgard. Cole Hauser is good with the few lines he has.

All in all, this is a great movie -- beautifully shot, well-written . . . well, I've said it all before. If you're not offended by excessive use of the word "f***" (and yes, some people really do talk like that) you should love it. Forget the naysayers -- "Good Will Hunting" is one of the most heartfelt, poignant movies in recent history. Too bad all the awards that year automatically went to the movie with the grandest special effects instead of the one with better dialogue and better characters.

A drama with emotional depth
This quiet drama about what genius means was the surprise hit of 1997, with friends Matt Damon and Ben Affleck both collaborating on the screenplay and acting. Damon plays Will Hunting, a troubled, gruff young man who works as a janitor at MIT despite his incredible self-education and intelligence. When a mathematics professor discovers that Will has solved a complicated problem left on the blackboard, he pursues Will as a potential protégé. But Will is not good with authority figures, as his past includes abuse at the hands of his father. When Will lands in jail, however, and the professor manages to obtain his release with the stipulation that Will work on mathematics with him and see a counselor, Will's whole life begins to open up. As a patient of psychologist Sean Maguire (Robin Williams), Will forges a relationship that acts as a catalyst for a new future.

Matt Damon does a wonderful job with the title role, although at times he seems a little wooden. As the therapist with a painful history that Will eventually connects with, Robin Williams turns in one of his less flamboyant performances. His suffering is palpable, and his need to save Will from himself lends real passion to the film. Affleck provides solid balance as Will's friend Chuckie, although his performance is less memorable than the other two, more of a function of the role than the actor. Minnie Driver is charming and believable as Will's new girlfriend Skylar.

The screenplay is intelligent and skillfully developed despite some unbelievable facets of the premise, most notably that such a wounded individual, no matter how bright, would have the discipline to teach himself as much as Will knows. Still, this movie only gets better as it progresses. The relationship between Will and his therapist is dynamic, poignant, and meaningful.

This is a good film to own, as it uncovers additional subtleties on second viewing, as long as you don't mind revisiting emotional angst. Its feel-good story arc is somewhat predictable, but the dialogue and interactions are not, making this flick surprisingly complex given the young ages of Damon and Affleck when it was made.

Good film, good job for a first time screenplay/movie.
This film, which was the first time for Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, in writing a screenplay, turned into a movie, is an impressive piece of work. About a shy, yet with an attitude, young man (who as we find out later was abused) who demonstrates his brilliance, but who will not let people get too close. Ben Affleck (before all of this "Bennifer" nonsense) is good as his buddy, who really wants him to use his "gift". With an outstanding performance by Robin Williams (who deserved his award) and Minnie Driver, the lads have put together a funny, poignant, movie; which wasn't "overdone" as some movies might be. Williams and Damon interact with each other with the right amount of "attitude" as they help each other overcome their fears, hopes, missed opportunities, and dreams. A better film than I thought it would be. I'd recommend it. The downside (for peope offended by language, i.e., profanity, is that there is a lot of it, especially the "F" word). If one can overlook that, if one's offended [I'm not overly so]; then, this movie speaks to the person inside all of us, as we ask ourselves some basic questions; what do we want out of life, do we have regrets, did we try hard enough to succeed, what does success mean, and so on. Damon's character refused to be "manipulated" by anyone, including the professor who had his own issues. Definitely worth seeing. Had a pretty decent soundtrack too.

Some Outstanding Moments, but Not a Masterpiece
GOOD WILL HUNTING was actually written by two of its stars, boyhood friends, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. I was surprised when I first learned this; the screenplay, while still a little rough around the edges, shows a lot of insight for the twentysomethings that Damon and Affleck were in 1997.

GOOD WILL HUNTING is the story of, who else, Will Hunting (Matt Damon), a janitor at MIT and a young man with a very troubled past. Will was an orphan and a victim of child abuse. As an adult he's a petty criminal with a short fuse and an uncanny ability to reduce the most complicated math problems and theorems to simple answers, something he does at night on MIT's chalkboards. Will is a mathematical genius with a photographic memory, but he neither recognizes his gift nor cares. He'd much rather be out with his other blue-collar buddies, drinking and getting into trouble.

Two things happen to change Will's errant ways. The first is the fact that his genius is found out by one of MIT's professors, Professor Lambeau (Stellan Skarsgard). Professor Skarsgard wants to do something to encourage Will to develop his gift. The second, and more pivotal thing that happens is that Will assaults a police office on one of his nightly binges and lands in jail.

Luckily, Will comes before a judge with some understanding of what he really needs. Instead of being sent to jail, Will is ordered to spend one day a week with Lambeau, studying math, and one day a week with a therapist in order to work through his short temper and his need to self-destruct. After a few false starts, Will ends up seeing Sean McGuire (Robin Williams), a teacher at Bunker Hill Community College and Lambeau's former college roommate. As things progress, it becomes more and more evident that Will is just as good for Sean as Sean is for Will. Will also receives help and encouragement from his childhood friend, Chuckie (Ben Affleck) and a pretty Harvard student from Britain, Skylar (Minnie Driver).

The plot of GOOD WILL HUNTING is very, very predictable, as is its ending, but that really didn't stop me from enjoying the film. There are some outstanding moments and set pieces, but overall, the film is only a little above average.

The dialogue is sometimes above average and, much to my delight, there was actually subtext, something so much screen and literary dialogue lacks these days. The thing that really rescues the film from mediocrity, though, are the performances from all the actors, especially an uncharacteristically subdued performance from Robin Williams. The scenes between Williams and Damon feel "real" and the chemistry between Affleck and Damon and Damon and Driver is palpable. Of course, the fact that Affleck and Damon have been lifelong friends and that Damon and Driver were romantically involved during the filming of GOOD WILL HUNTING didn't hurt the "chemistry" one bit. Still, it could have gone wrong. Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck were engaged when they made GIGLI and that fell flatter than any proverbial pancake ever could.

GOOD WILL HUNTING is a very solid, though predictable piece of entertainment, with strong performances from all concerned. I would recommend renting it before buying it, however, as it's not a film that one wants to see again and again. At least not in my opinion. ... Read more

Reviews (96)

Predictable, but hilarious
Eurotrip is brought to us by the same people who brought us Road Trip and Old School, and it's not hard to tell. Loaded with some predictable gags, ethnic stereotypes, and situations that could never ever happen in the real world; Eurotrip still manages to be the funniest film to be released yet this year. High school graduate Scotty (Scott Mechlowicz) takes off to Europe after being dumped by his girlfriend in search of an obscenely hot German girl who he thought was a guy. Along with him are three of his friends: Cooper (Jacob Pitts, who closey emulates a young David Spade, both physically and comically), Jamie (Travis Wester), and Jenny (Buffy the Vampire Slayer's Michelle Trachtenberg); all of whom travel from France to Amsterdam (naturally) and all over Europe getting into all kinds of mishaps. While Eurotrip occasionally borderlines on stupidity, you won't be able to help yourself from laughing. Featuring hilarious cameos from Matt Damon, Smallville's Kristin Kreuk, Lucy Lawless, and the always great Vinnie Jones.

Predictable, but hilarious
Eurotrip is brought to us by the same people who brought us Road Trip and Old School, and it's not hard to tell. Loaded with some predictable gags, ethnic stereotypes, and situations that could never ever happen in the real world; Eurotrip still manages to be the funniest film to be released yet this year. High school graduate Scotty (Scott Mechlowicz) takes off to Europe after being dumped by his girlfriend in search of an obscenely hot German girl who he thought was a guy. Along with him are three of his friends: Cooper (Jacob Pitts, who closey emulates a young David Spade, both physically and comically), Jamie (Travis Wester), and Jenny (Buffy the Vampire Slayer's Michelle Trachtenberg); all of whom travel from France to Amsterdam (naturally) and all over Europe getting into all kinds of mishaps. While Eurotrip occasionally borderlines on stupidity, you won't be able to help yourself from laughing. Featuring hilarious cameos from Matt Damon, Smallville's Kristin Kreuk, Lucy Lawless, and the always great Vinnie Jones.

crazy hot european fun
That was the tightest movie ever. crazy hilarious

keeps ya laughing
i seen this movie on dvd, and wish i had seen it in the theatre,
everything that may go wrong, does go wrong and the hilarious mishaps..keeps ya laughin , with adult humour.

FUNNY *BLEEPING* MOVIE
I don't know what is wrong with other people but the "Scotty Don't Know" bit was hysterical as was the rest of the movie. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

The performances are strong
Matt Damon pretty much carries this sequal where his charecter comes closer to restoring his memory of who he realy is. Julia Styles also shines in her role as someone who is still uncertain if she is a friend or for of Jason Bourne. It's more complex then you may think.

Hey Jason Greeno
Don't you think your being a little too harsh, and whats your problem with dentists. If you have not seen the Bourne Identity or read the books it might be a little confusing. All in all it's your typical spy/espionage flick. If your not into the genre you won't like the film, but if your a James Bond fan you should enjoy this. I love the idea of traveling from country to country it gives the movie an international feel. Bottom line is I enjoyed this movie.

I'd rather be at the dentist
I snagged a Sneak Peek movie pass from a coworker yesterday to check out this film. Universal would not allow the name to get out. It was a huge secret. We were not sure if we would be seeing "Two Brothers", "Spider-Man 2" or something else. I finally learned my fate when a rep. announced it as the lights dimmed. Gosh, how I wish I got out then.

Long story short, I have not seen the first film. Hence, I really had no idea what was going on. It's one of those movies that keeps moving from country to country like an online Lonely Planet guide. The name of the place shoots up on the screen so that we can read it. They do this because you can't tell from the script where you are. It's all convoluted and dry. Damon has never done worse work. He looks like a robot from the new Will Smith movie than he does a real man most of the time. There is an emotional part near the beginning that was nice, but then it is all procedural FBI/police type stuff.

If you have a calendar of Matt staring down at you right now, you should go and see this. If you will be starring in a new episode of a one-season cop show, go.

If you are hoping for a coherent, fun summer flick, look elsewhere. ... Read more

Reviews (255)

Not Quite Titanic
Titan A.E. has a lot of to live up to. Recent Disney films, though very cliched, have followed a very straight forward, good conquers all storyline. As a result, these have grossed up and beyond the 100 million mark. So, coming up with a new idea is indeed very risky, especially when you spend 90 million dollars on it, like the makers of Titan A.E. did. The film takes place in the 31st century, the earth has been blown up by an alien race, and humans are now restricted to doing slave work in space and are dying of at a rapid pace. A drifter named Cal, whose father was lead designer of "the titan project", a craft which has the ability to reproduce earth as we know it. Cal (voiced by Matt Damon) soon finds out his destiny and goes on a quest to find the ship. The storyline is a mix of Star Wars and the recent flop Battlefield Earth. Its a shame the movie used cliches of both films, and could never develop the charcters into a group the people would care about. There are certain twists in the movie, but nothing that actually throws you. The animation is probably the only real reason to see this movie. The mix of CGI backgrounds and animation make the movie look outstanding. The developers had the unfortunate privilage of coming off the horrid Battlefield Earth and Dinosaur. If the story was a little more grounded, and the charcters were a little more developed, this could have been a blockbuster film. Unless you are looking for great animation, but shallow plot, stay away from this film.

A Steal From the Budget Bin
I'm always astounded when I see this dvd offered so cheap. It's usually thrown in the same budget bin with really bad movies.

To cut to the chase, the story is ok; not great, but not bad either. What really separates this one into the pile of DVD's that I like to watch are the stunning visuals and the even more stunning (DTS) sound. If you have a home theater, then this dvd will pay for itself in the first few minutes of the movie.

An indicator of the excellent sound on this dvd is that when I finally added a subwoofer to my home theater, the first dvd I put in to try out was Titan AE (and it left my whole family with mouths agape).

The story itself is fine, though it would have been better if it were developed more. There is a good story there, it's just not fully presented. Some of the secondary characters are very forgettable. In other words, it's pretty much on par with most SciFi movies. I could have written this same paragraph about any Star Wars or Star Trek movie. That may not be high praise, but it's no indictment either. It's SciFi; enjoy what it gives you and don't be overly critical.

Not exactly "Titan"-ic...
Although I'm a fan of both "space opera" sci-fi and 'toons geared more towards the older crowd, I didn't find "Titan A.E." to be a particularly interesting or original melding of these two elements. On the story side, I found the whole "boy-man-destined-to-save-humanity" angle that the central character plays a bit derivative of, and not played out quite as well as such previous sci-fi messiahs as the 'Star Wars' trilogy's Luke Skywalker and 'Dune's' Paul Atreides/Muad'Dib. I also would've preferred they put a little more exposition into-- and explained with a bit more detail-- the period between the Earth's destruction and the commencing of the hero's search for the Titan. On the technical end of things: although the folks who put this together made an admirable effort to meld both 3-D computer animation and traditional cel animation together as seamlessly as possible, It rarely ever looked quite right. This lack of cohesion is especially noticeable in one scene where a cel-drawn character is walking down a CGI spiral staircase. Or was he walking UP it? See, the thing looks so odd I couldn't even tell which direction the guy was goin' on the staircase! How's THAT for a case in point, eh? Otherwise, the 'toonage was some of the most detailed and painstakingly-rendered I've ever seen in a non-anime feature.

But even though I found the story and animation less than stellar, I thought some of the deleted scenes in the bonus features section were moderately interesting. A few parts of these scenes were rough-drawn, giving the viewer a little window into the animation process and what the film's producers worked with before adding the finishing touches to the 'toonage. The feature-length commentary track featuring co-directors Don Bluth and Gary Goldman also lets the viewer in on the more technical aspects of producing animated features in general and 'Titan A.E.' in particular. Sadly, I found their commentary so dry that I bailed out on them about twenty minutes into the feature. It also didn't help that they spoke in an almost hushed tone half the time, prompting me to turn the volume up just so I could understand them.

Also included among the special features were the usual trailers and TV spots for the movie, and a behind-the-scenes special on the making of the feature. My viewing of the BTS special made me come to the realization that I've become rather tired of most of these "making-of" featurettes that they throw onto most "special-edition" DVDs nowadays. About halfway through the show I realized I really didn't give two doots about how the animation was done, or the voice actors talking about the complexities of their characters. Immediately after making this realization, I bailed on the special and decided to go do something a little more productive-- like writing this review about the DVD.

And people say I'm a slacker...

'Late

Visuals!
Some of the most beautiful visuals of any movie to grace the screen. Should appeal to fans of Star Wars style action. Too intense for the wee ones though.

Wasted potential
This is what happens when the guy who did "Pebble and the Penguin" ventures into "Heavy Metal 2000" territory.

In the beginning I actually liked this movie. Visuals were nice, and storyline seemed promising: earth has been destroyed and humanity has spread out among the stars while being persecuted by the Drej, a race of pure energy, because they fear what we might become and also the construction of the Titan AE. Yet there were some problems I noticed that put the film on thin ice: cliche, archetype characters. For example: the brave, handsome hero and the tough, independant woman. And of course they hate each other, because after all two people can't fall in love unless they hate each other's guts first.

Things start to go downhill in the storyline though. For example, the Drej are not scary at all, nor are they dangerous. Characters are continually saying through out the film, "You can't defeat them!" Yet through out the film their fighters and ground troops are killed with one shot. And this includes one shot with a PISTOL! I don't care if its a laser pistol, its still a freggin' pistol versus a giant fightercraft.

The plotholes get bigger in the next thirty minutes. Some examples:
1) How did the hero know what the Drej lord was saying? Did he read the subtitles?
2) Do you know the hero breaks out of prison by going through the electric shield door? You're telling me one of the most advanced civilizations in the universe can't come up with a better way to imprison people?
3) Why could the hero fly the Drej plane? Where did he learn to fly it? Did he read a "Drej Plane for Dummies" in a cut scene?
4) The hero and heroine find out the captain is in league with the Drej by peeking through the door. OK...why the hell did he leave his door open if he's talking with his race's archenemy?! Didn't he think that a little bit of secrecy was in order? And then he gets mad at they heard him...he should be mad at himself!
5) So our two main characters just convinced an entire colony of people they didn't know to help build a busted spaceship, make it work, and cheer them on as they left? And how long did it take them to do this because they make it seem like it was less than a few days.
6) They didn't really flesh out why the Drej hated us so much. They keep saying "It's because of what we may become." Well all right, but isn't every race capable of being great? Why doesn't the Drej just kill every one? The Drej's despise of Titan AE seems to hold the answer until it's revealed at the end that Titan AE is meant to rebuild earth after it's destroyed. OK that explains why the Drej want to destroy it...but it doesn't explain why they hate us so much.
7) How did the little annoying green guy survive an explosion point blank?

The turncoating of the captain through out the film was totally unconvincing. He's suddenly gone from the nice, father-like figure to "I AM GOING TO KILL THEM ALL" villain stereotype. Then near the end he suddenly sacrifices his life to let the hero and heroine go, saying, "No! It's better this way!" I seriously doubt they thought that character out, instead going for every side-character cliche in the book.

The voice acting in this wasn't too great either. I wonder why? I wonder who came up with the idea that Drew Barrymore would be a great choice to play an Asian chick. And Jeanine Gerafelo's voice couldn't be any more monotone. I'll admit Nathan Lane's character had some class, although it seemed to add needless humor to a character that becomes serious in the second act, adding yet again more bad character continuity in the film.

This film had a lot of potential considering the basic storyline and the budget/artists involved. Unfortunately, it's marred by the poor script that doesn't take itself seriously at all. It's pretty much over by the end when the hero calls the new Earth "Bob." Wow what a great way to end a movie. I'm surprised Stanley Kubrick didn't have a clown instead of superhuman baby at the end of "2001."

Wait a minute...the writer of the "Buffy the Vamprie Slayer" TV series wrote this? THAT'S YOUR PROBLEM! ... Read more

Description

In these turbulent times, Howard Zinn is inspiring a new generation. This acclaimed film looks at the amazing life of the renowned historian, activist and author. Following his early days as a shipyard labor organizer and bombardier in World War II, Zinn became an academic rebel and leader of civil disobedience in a time of institutionalized racism and war. His influential writings shine light on and bring voice to factory workers, immigrant laborers, African Americans, Native Americans and the working poor. Featuring rare archival materials and interviews with Zinn and colleagues such as Noam Chomsky, YOU CAN'T BE NEUTRAL captures the essence of this extraordinary man who has been a catalyst for progressive change for more than 60 years. Narrated by Matt Damon; Featuring Music by Pearl Jam, Woody Guthrie & Billy Bragg. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

The force of moral indignation
This is a marvelous film about an amazing man. Depending, of course, on your point of view. Which is Zinn's point. In any case, if you agree with Zinn, you'll love the movie. If you don't, but have an open mind, you might be interested in his ideas. And if you're Bill O'Reilly, don't even bother. Please.

The film follows Zinn from his experiences as a bomber pilot in WWII, through the birth of modern American activism in Atlanta (where he was fired from Spellman College for encouraging students in non-violent activism), through the Vietnam war, and up to his current activities and ideas. It also contains a very nice section about his book "The People's History of the United States," which looks at American history from the point of view of the victims. AND, it is the only mention I have ever seen in film or television of the tragic Ludlow, Colorado massacre of the strikers by those staunch defenders of American democracy: the Pinkertons. That's right, the mine owners brought in their own private army of Pinkertons who burned the strikers' tent city in the middle of a Colorado winter and then shot the survivors.

This film reminds us of what moral indignation is all about and the importance of taking a stand against tyranny in all its forms. Bill O'Reilly will, of course, disagree.

Zinn
Howard Zinn is amazing. If you are even the slightest bit concerned with rational politics you should read or watch his works. ... Read more

Description

Chasing Amy is the third installment in the "New Jersey Trilogy" from award-winning writer-director Kevin Smith (Clerks, Mallrats, Dogma). Cult comic-book artist Holden (Ben Affleck) falls in love with fellow artist Alyssa (Joey Lauren Adams), only to be thwarted by her sexuality, the disdain of his best friend Banky (Jason Lee), and his own misgivings about himself. Filled with Smith's unique ear for dialogue and insight into relationships, Chasing Amy offers a thoughtful, funny look at how perceptions alter lives, and how obsession and self-doubt skew reality. ... Read more

Reviews (355)

Simply Fabulous!
"Chasing Amy" by director Kevin Smith is such an triumph. This movie about love, friendship and taking chances hits with so many punches. It's well rounded, it doesn't take the easy way out, NOR does it go for the safe laugh. The story surrounding comic book writer Holden (Ben Afflect) , his best mate and partner Banky (played beautifully by Jason Lee), and Holden's love for fellow comic book girl, lesbian Allyssa (Joey Lauren Adams) Who SO deserved the Golden Globe Nomination. It's sweet, lovely and such a testament to true love. Conflict between these three characters carries this movie with such intelligence.

One of the BEST love declaration speeches in movie HISTORY is in this movie, when Holden spills his cuts (in the rain, no less) to Alyssa. That scene sums up the whole movie. It's just such a good movie. Supporting cast includes the performance of Fan Fav. "Jay and Silent Bob" in a wonderful moment that sums it all up. Truly inspired writing on Smith's part.

I hope everyone appreciates it like I do. It's fabulous!

blech!
Why did this movie get such good reviews?? Maybe it would've been clearer when it came out, but I honestly thought it was terrible.

The main plotline made no sense whatsoever. There was no chemistry between Ben and Joey's characters, and suddenly, after about 10 minutes, he found himself deeply in love with her and had to make a 5 minute confession to her. Then it turns out she, a former lesbian, was in love with him all along too, and suddenly they're kissing in the rain. There was no build-up to this, and as such I felt nothing for their relationship or anything they were going through.

The drawn-out monologues in the movie are pretty silly as well. The characters talk at each other for long periods of time while the others just stare at them blankly. (Ben Affleck has indeed mastered the blank, gaping stare.) And parts of the movie are so silly that I wasn't sure if any of the movie was supposed to be taken seriously at all. Sometimes it seems it has a message, but then it's just stupid.

It was kind of entertaining at times, and the supporting characters were amusing. So that's why it got 2 stars. But overall it was a pretty bad movie.

another popular release.
This review is for the Criterion Collection DVD edotion of the film.

This film the third release in the Jersey "trilogy" (quintilogy to be exact) is also the one where Silent Bob speaks more than any other release. In this film,(Ben Affleck) a comic book artist falls in love with young women who is also a comic book artist, only to discover that she is lesbian. The film is not for children and like the film "Clerks" almost got an NC-17 rating based solely on sexual dialog.

The Criterion DVD has numerous special features.
There is a new DVD edition video introdiction for the audio commentary explaining a comment made by Kevin blasting DVD's (The audio commentary as originally recorded for the laserdisc edition.)
The is full length audio commentary by director/actor Kevin Smith, producer Scott Mosier, actors Ben Affleck and Jason Mewes, associate producer Robert Hawk, Miramax executive Jon Gordon, and Vincent Pereira. There is also a Theatrical trailer, 10 deleted scenes with introductions. There is also a set of outtakes.

The Criterion Collection remains the exclusive distributer for the film's DVD format as of the time this review is being written.

'Till the other shoe drops
Interesting but pretty improbable, and ultimately it will be unworkable. It should have been written as a tragedy instead it is a farce.

ok but no clerks
this was an ok film, but still highly overrated i recommend clerks, clerks the series, or maybe mallrats instead of this. ... Read more

Reviews (616)

Smith's fun movie shows what he can do with Hollywood budget
Kevin Smith ("Clerks", "Mallrats" and"Chasing Amy") continues to get better with each film. If"End of Days" does not sound like a fun Armageddon-themed film, try Dogma. Dogma is fun, for sure, but not for the easily offended. S those who would prefer not to see angels use profanity, or the wrath (i.e. violence) of misguided angels of death, they should avoid this film like the plague. Chris Rock also makes an appearance as the 13th apostle Rufus, who claims that he was left out of the Bible because he's black. Witty dialogue, plenty of pop culture references (Who's house? Run's house!) and some interesting philosophical questions make for a very entertaining way to spend an evening. The only negative aspects are the bad special effects (in one scene, there is a s--- demon that looks like something from "Jason and the Argonauts".) and a lame ending including an appearance by Alanis Morisette as God. It might've been four, but with the Alanis Morisette appearance, three stars. Josh Bob says check it out as a matinee, or pay full price and leave when "God" arrives ...

Great writing, wonderful cast, bland direction.
Let's be frank: visually, "Dogma" is unimpressive. The special effects look TV-quality, the editing is jerky, the cinematography is bland and Kevin Smith's direction is unispired.

Thankfully, the sins of "Dogma" are far outweighed by its virtues. Smith's script is hilarious, thought-provoking, and ultimately touching. To act it out, he's rounded up a top-notch cast that brings genuine life to their roles.

Brainy bombshell Linda Fiorentino is Bethany, chosen seemingly at random by the sarcastic angel Metatron (Alan Rickman) to work for God. Her mission: to stop a pair of fallen angels (Ben Affleck and Matt Damon) from exploiting a Catholic Church loophole that will get them back into Heaven. If they do, they'll prove God wrong, thus erasing everything He/She has created.

Bethany's reluctant allies in her quest include Chris Rock as Rufus, the unrecorded 13th apostle, kicked out of Earth, Heaven and history for rightly insisting that Jesus was black; Salma Hayek as a Muse with a heavenly body and a brain to match; and everyone's favorite potheads Jay and Silent Bob (Jason Mewes and Smith.)

Fiorentino gives yet another great performance, contrasted nicely by Rickman's sad, exasperated angel. Affleck and Damon's menacing twist on their pretty-boy images is genuinely disturbing. Mewes is reliably funny as the imbecilic Jay, and Smith shows perfect comic timing and impressive range as Silent Bob.

The story mostly coasts along on a vast supply of smart-alec wit, but a few scenes rise above the rest: an unnerving parking-garage confrontation between Affleck and Damon, and a quiet lakeside chat between Fiorentino and Rickman. "Dogma" also scores points for keeping most of its script's excessive violence stylishly offscreen.

Bottom line: "Dogma" is not a well-made film, but it is a good one. You will laugh loudly and often, and come away with a greater respect for the power of faith and the importance of believing in something greater than yourself.

Film fans take note: in October 2000 View Askew will release the "collector's edition" of this film, with more than an hour of cut footage and plenty of other extra goodies.

BOLDLY CYNICAL (AND OCCASIONALLY FUNNY) LOCKER-ROOM PRATTLE
As a sweet bite of blaspemy this Kevin Smith stinker may do fine, supported by a star-studded cast and a crunchily inventive premise to sink our collective teeth into the heart of Catholicism.

But it is amusing to see a horde of reviewers call this clever and thoughtful. Sorry folks, the film's troop of eccentric characters do very little to bail it out of its convoluted ramble about theology.

When it comes to intellectual muck-raking, the film with its doozy "loophole" simply drowns under the weight of diminishing returns. Religion is not an intellectual exercise, it's role is to fulfill spiritual, psychological and emotional needs in our lives. A person needs his world to make some sense to them, and religion can comfort with answers that science can not yet provide.

If on the other hand you're game for some tongue-in-cheek degenerative humor (for example, giant monsters of bubbling human excrement) sure, this may be right up your alley. Just make sure you have plenty of time as the circus goes on for a while.

dogma is cosmic law.
two angels,who were kicked out of heaven long ago,find a loop-hole so they may return.they need to go to new jersey.jay and silent bob go with the last zion,the 13th apostle rufis-left out of the bible because hes black,and the muse join forces to prevent this for if the angels get to heaven all creation will go poof!it stars matt damon and ben affleck as the 2 angels.alanis morriseete as god,chris rock is rufis and even george carlin as a bishop in the church.of the jay and silent bob movies it ranks second id say,but a lot of people say its the best also.it is the best religious based movie of all time!however,it will piss off all church goers.no naked chicks in this one either.chris rock,although normaly one of the most obnoxious racist bigots alive,actualy doesnt bitch too much in this one.he does make a good point that if there is a christian god-and lets face it theres probaly not-hes black.why would he be anything else?the world started in AFRica right?i abselutely love this movie!

Didn't live up to the hype
The idea of skewering the Catholic Church is not new. Nor is it particularly "brave", since they're supposed to love their persecutors. I'm still waiting for the "brave" film that skewers, say, militant Islam. Yeah, you kind of lose your courage when you might actually get hurt.

Anyway. The general hype looked promising. A film that pokes fun at Catholicism. I popped in the DVD and waited.

And waited.

And waited.

Let's see: there were excrement demons, a black apostle, some homicidal angels ... but where was the satire?

It's a shame. This film would have worked better as a comedy. That is, if the writer/director(s) had said, hey, let's make this humorous. Throw in some jokes, some laughs. After all, they had Chris Rock. The idea of a black apostle is sort of funny; why not make it intentionally funny? They had George Carlin; why not make him say some funny lines? Why not have those two *write* some funny lines?

But no. As it is, I'm not sure what the film really is. The heroine's deadpan, bored delivery might be a clue.

Apparently some viewers thought it was a satire or comedy, but perhaps it's sarcasm. Or just plain meanness, trying to convince others to suffer through this tedious film. Or maybe - maybe they really thought it was funny - no, wait, I'm starting to entertain really wacky thoughts here.

Borrow, don't buy. ... Read more

Reviews (335)

No sense of pace whatsoever
THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY is really a shame. Here are all the elements of an engaging, literate thriller--decent performances, a remarkably disturbing and insightful story (thanks largely to Patricia Highsmith's novel), a chillingly atmospheric score, and a well-realized sense of time and place. The trouble is, I didn't give a damn. This movie is so poorly paced, so slow and uninvolving, that watching it is like trying to slog through a pond of molasses.

It doesn't help that Matt Damon is the wrong choice for the elusive psychopath, Tom Ripley. Damon isn't a bad actor, just a miscast one, and while he nails the various impersonations Ripley must perform and seamlessly switches between identities, he never really fascinates or enthralls on-screen. It also doesn't help that Jude Law, as Dickie Greenleaf, completely upstages Damon in an Oscar-nominated performance that's equal parts fire and ice. The only character less interesting than Ripley is Dickie's long-suffering fiancee, Marge, played by a terribly dull Gwyneth Paltrow, who looks almost as bored by the story as I was.

There are a few great, nail-biting scenes that expertly raise the tension, including the murder sequences and a climactic confrontation between Ripley and Marge. If only the rest of this movie were as rivetingly suspenseful. The denouement takes about half an hour to unravel--I soon lost count of the number of times I thought, "Oh, good, this is finally wrapping up" before the script dashed my expectations by plunging ahead with some new plot contrivance that would require an extra ten minutes to play out. Even at under two and a half hours, this movie feels eons longer than an equally self-indulgent project like...oh, say, TITANIC. The truth is, RIPLEY is smarter, craftier, and more psychologically plausible than TITANIC ever was. It's not a better film, though. How sad is that?

CLASSY & INTELLIGENT THRILLER
Mistaken for a Princeton graduate whilst wearing a borrowed blazer, the low born New York charmer, Tom Ripley (Matt Damon), is dispatched by rich businessman Herbert Greenleaf (James Rebhorn), to travel first class on an all-expenses-paid mission, to bring his errant young playboy son, Dickie (Jude Law), back to New York from his champagne and party filled life on the Mediterranean. However, on meeting the handsome and charismatic Dickie (and his equally attractive girlfriend), the awestruck Tom falls for his charms and an ambiguous relationship begins. Tom, the social chameleon who has talents for forgery and impersonation, feeling that he cannot enter this world as himself begins to transform his identity, by learning new skills, studying jazz, art, geography and foreign languages. He not only changes his clothes he also changes his character. Meanwhile the innocent and trusting Meredith (Cate Blanchett) who met Tom on his arrival in Europe accepts Tom as an equal because she thinks he is Dickie Greenleaf. But all is not well in the playground of the rich, for Dickie is in turns as unpleasant and rude as he is debonair and charming, and soon he and his rich friends begin to tire of the financially inferior and all too clingy Tom, who has no intention of being cast adrift, for it is his belief that "its better to be a fake somebody than a real nobody"...

The Talented Mr Ripley subtly portrays the hedonistic lifestyle of rich, young Americans in the 1950's. In the movie, Tom is less the casebook amoral psychopath of the novel and more a victim of class in his desire to be like the rich but cruel Dickie and Freddie. The film is, however, anything but simple and only about an hour in does the film become anything approaching an orthodox thriller. You are kept hooked throughout as we guess at Tom's motives..., which is at best ambiguous. We observe the mercurial Dickie toy with his affections, whilst Dickie's girlfriend Marge (Gwyneth Paltrow), aware of Dickie's weaknesses, looks on.

Although fans of the novel may be unhappy with the liberties taken with both the plot and the characters from Patricia Highsmiths novel, most people will agree that Anthony Minghella has done an excellent job in imaginatively and successfully bringing The Talented Mr Ripley to the big screen. Not only does he direct this excellent and very intelligent thriller with a sure and subtle touch but he perfectly captures the beauty of the mediteranean, as the movie moves from one spectacular venue to another; from San Remo to Naples, Rome, and Venice. It also stars a top notch and perfectly cast array of the worlds finest young actors, including Matt Damon (Good Will Hunting), Gwyneth Paltrow (Shakespeare In Love), Jude Law (A.I.), as well as Philip Seymour Hoffman (Happiness) and Cate Blanchette (Elizabeth), all on top form. Damon's Ripley is an odd figure, his cumbersome awkwardness contrasting perfectly with Jude Law's cool and casual arrogance as Dickie Greenleaf, lolling around on his Riviera deck-chair as if the world owes him a living. And, although Matt Damon is truly outstanding, it is Jude Law's Oscar-nominated turn and Hoffman's brilliantly obnoxious performance as an ugly-rich American that come close to stealing the movie.

There are many unforgettable moments, in this beautifully crafted movie that Hitchcock would be proud of, as Tom struggles to maintain his dual identity. More dramatically satisfying than The English Patient, The Talented Mr Ripley is an intelligent film, carefully cast and immaculately performed. Highly recommended this for people who love suspense and prefer to watch movies that come with an IQ!!!

Horrible
I must say that this is one of the worst films that I've ever watched. It was very long, and very boring. I didn't care about what happened to any of the characters, as a matter of fact I didn't like any of the them. The story didn't unfold effortlessly but instead seemed to move slowly and with difficulty.

Beautiful Film With Dark Anti-Hero
"The Talented Mr. Ripley" is one of the most unsettling, vivid thrillers made since Hitchcock. Matt Damon leads an All-Hollywood Under-40 cast, including Jude Law, Ms. Paltrow, Cate Blanchett, and Phillip Seymore Hoffman (reprising his obnoxious spoiled brat from "Scent of a Woman," with his arrogance on steroids) in one of his most convincing performances to date.

Set in the 1950's, "Ripley" perfectly captures the look and feel of the period through rich costumes and fabulous sets -- director Anthony Minghella uses the same voluptuous direction that he used to such great effect in "The English Patient." But there are elements of subversion in the movie that match Ripley's subversive, evil soul -- the rise of jazz ("noise," as one character derisively calls it), characters who do nothing but spend their parents' fortunes, and homosexuality and adultery tearing at the rigid social fabric of the times all mirror Thomas Ripley's unnerving ability to manipulate the truth to his own ends.

Ripley is not content to be the best person he can be -- Ripley wants to be the best person that someone else could be. In this case, it's Dickie Greenleaf (Law -- fiendishly handsome), heir to a shipping fortune and ladies' man extraordinaire. Ripley is sent to Italy by the elder Greenleaf to retrieve his son, idling away on the beach with his girlfriend Marge (Paltrow). Teaching himself jazz and inventing stories of schooldays at Princeton, Ripley soon charms his way into Dickie's house.

Ripley knows that the key to being a great liar is to tell the truth as much as possible and allow others to draw their own conclusions. This takes great wit and timing, and Ripley pulls it off fabulously. For a while, things could not be better, but soon the impulsive Dickie tires of the ever-present Ripley, whose attachment to Dickie goes beyond mere friendship into unsettling territories. This leads to a horrifying boat trip where the two Ripley-proclaimed "brothers" speak truths that probably should have gone unsaid.

Ripley finds himself caught up in the world of his own making, and the lies he has spun threaten to ensnare him even as he uses them to break free from his former anonymous life. Delicately balancing new lies and capitalizing on what is, to our modern eyes, a quaintly obsolete communications system (my God, they actually write letters!), Ripley eventually finds himself living the good life in a wonderfully decorated Roman penthouse.

As good a liar as Ripley is, he can't prevent some from figuring out his various lies and secrets. And this is where the movie really gets dark -- Ripley is a man filled with rage, and that rage can lead to gruesome results.

Ripley is a man of considerable talents and appetites. His hunger for acceptance and for love -- there is virtually nobody in the film whom Ripley does not seduce -- is exceeded only by his instinct for self-preservation. Even Ripley is horrified by what he is capable of, and the climactic scene leaves no doubt that for all his talents, Ripley is not someone you ever want to meet.

"Ripley" achieves a lot of its effect through implication, and the films most charged scenes, whether violent or sexual, are actually quite restrained in what is actually shown on-screen. But like "Pulp Fiction," the scenes are perhaps even more powerful for not showing exactly what happens, but by their implications. In that sense, the entire movie is an implication, a set-up for future stories (there are other "Ripley" stories) involving our favorite murderous impersonator. I hope that Hollywood can pull it together to make another installment with Damon as the lead -- he nails it.

VERY GOOD STUFF
The Ripley charector is great to watch he is like a child trying to fit in, he knows something about himself is diffrent but he cannot describe it. Because you have to have a conscience to know the answer. I remember seeing the talented mr. ripley in the theatre and how pleased I was with the ripley charector. His charector was created some time ago and most people do not know it but he inspired most of hollywood's classic villians particuarly the hitchcock ones. Also see RIPLEY'S GAME. I think John Malkovich is even better in the sequel. ... Read more

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