This is not based on Isaac Asimov’s well-known collection of short stories of the same title; as the credits say, it’s only “suggested” by the famous book. The movie does use his famous “Three Laws of Robotics” and generally treats them with respect; a couple of characters come from Asimov, too, notably Dr. Susan Calvin, here played somewhat stiffly by Bridget Moynahan, much younger than Calvin was in most of the stories. The movie is reasonably entertaining and spectacularly well produced.
The script was originally titled “Hardwired” and had nothing to do with Asimov. When Alex Proyas, a long-time science fiction reader, was hired to direct, he had rewrites done that incorporated Asimov’s ideas. The story is credited to Jeff Vintar (who wrote “Hardwired”); he also cowrote “Final Fantasy” and is adapting Asimov’s “Foundation” books to the screen. The co-writer of ...
Out of the various opi of Monty Python, “Life of Brian” is the magnum. It’s more focused than “Holy Grail” and definitely more coherent than “Meaning of Life.” And it follows, pretty much, one character, Brian Cohen (Graham Chapman), from the beginning of the movie to the end. The other Pythons pop up as needed, or not, but the movie gains interest by having this central character.
Brian is born when Jesus is, and the three wise men accidentally arrive at his cradle in a manger before they realize their mistake, and head for that other manger down the alley a ways. This disappoints Brian’s cranky mother Mandy (Terry Jones), who liked the gold and frankincense, but could do without the myrrh. The movie returns to Brian many years later as he and his mother try to hear the Sermon ...
Supposedly Dustin Hoffman wanted to play Willy Wonka in Tim Burton’s “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory;” when he wasn’t able to, he signed on for this. In the future, I hope Mr. Hoffman gets to play the roles he wants to; what he does instead can have unpleasant consequences, like this movie.
Few qualities are more annoying than failed whimsy, which describes “Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium” perfectly. Zach Helm wrote the film and makes his directorial debut, but his direction is more successful (or less unsuccessful) than his writing. Everything is labored; all the people are adorable; all the children are cute. Furthermore, Hoffman, as Mr. Magorium, is given a “funny” haircut and talks in a “funny” manner. He pulls in his lower lips, squints a little (I suspect he thinks that makes his eyes twinkle), and talks like Ed ...
Nice guy Charlie Baileygates is a member of the Rhode Island State Police, living a contented storybook life with an attractive girlfriend, Layla (Traylor Howard), who he then marries. Unfortunately, on their return home from the church, Charley gets into an altercation with their over-sensitive, diminutive black limo driver, Shonte (Tony Cox). Layla plays peacekeeper, but discovers that both she and Shonte are members of Mensa, the elite organization for genius-level intelligence, which she clearly finds attractive. Nine months later, Charley is surprised when Layla gives birth to triplets, all of them black. Layla leaves the heartbroken Charley with the kids and speeds off with Shonte. Luckily, Charley adores the kids, who are precocious, off-the-chart geniuses, and raises them alone. Unfortunately, Charley’s endlessly forgiving nature and inability to vent his frustrations has made him into a town laughing stock and ...
In the Soviet Union, a movement led by fanatical rebel Vladimir Radchenko (Daniel von Bargen) overthrows the current government and makes alarming threats against the U.S. and its allies. Lt. Commander Ron Hunter (Denzel Washington) and his friend, Lt. Peter “Weaps” Ince (Viggo Mortensen) are called away from Hunter’s daughter’s birthday party when events escalate. Hunter is summoned to the submarine U.S.S. Alabama by Captain Frank Ramsey (Gene Hackman) as a last minute replacement for his Executive Officer (XO) who has come down with appendicitis. Ramsey is a somewhat crusty career military man and has been a captain for nearly thirty years, while Hunter is brilliant and capable but has little combat experience. The Alabama departs for waters around the Soviet Union, transporting a full arsenal of nuclear missiles that are several times more powerful than the ones used on ...
This is not based on Isaac Asimov’s well-known collection of short stories of the same title; as the credits say, it’s only “suggested” by the famous book. The movie does use his famous “Three Laws of Robotics” and generally treats them with respect; a couple of characters come from Asimov, too, notably Dr. Susan Calvin, here played somewhat stiffly by Bridget Moynahan, much younger than Calvin was in most of the stories. The movie is reasonably entertaining and spectacularly well produced.
The script was originally titled “Hardwired” and had nothing to do with Asimov. When Alex Proyas, a long-time science fiction reader, was hired to direct, he had rewrites done that incorporated Asimov’s ideas. The story is credited to Jeff Vintar (who wrote “Hardwired”); he also cowrote “Final Fantasy” and is adapting Asimov’s “Foundation” books to the screen. The co-writer of ...
Out of the various opi of Monty Python, “Life of Brian” is the magnum. It’s more focused than “Holy Grail” and definitely more coherent than “Meaning of Life.” And it follows, pretty much, one character, Brian Cohen (Graham Chapman), from the beginning of the movie to the end. The other Pythons pop up as needed, or not, but the movie gains interest by having this central character.
Brian is born when Jesus is, and the three wise men accidentally arrive at his cradle in a manger before they realize their mistake, and head for that other manger down the alley a ways. This disappoints Brian’s cranky mother Mandy (Terry Jones), who liked the gold and frankincense, but could do without the myrrh. The movie returns to Brian many years later as he and his mother try to hear the Sermon ...
Supposedly Dustin Hoffman wanted to play Willy Wonka in Tim Burton’s “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory;” when he wasn’t able to, he signed on for this. In the future, I hope Mr. Hoffman gets to play the roles he wants to; what he does instead can have unpleasant consequences, like this movie.
Few qualities are more annoying than failed whimsy, which describes “Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium” perfectly. Zach Helm wrote the film and makes his directorial debut, but his direction is more successful (or less unsuccessful) than his writing. Everything is labored; all the people are adorable; all the children are cute. Furthermore, Hoffman, as Mr. Magorium, is given a “funny” haircut and talks in a “funny” manner. He pulls in his lower lips, squints a little (I suspect he thinks that makes his eyes twinkle), and talks like Ed ...
Nice guy Charlie Baileygates is a member of the Rhode Island State Police, living a contented storybook life with an attractive girlfriend, Layla (Traylor Howard), who he then marries. Unfortunately, on their return home from the church, Charley gets into an altercation with their over-sensitive, diminutive black limo driver, Shonte (Tony Cox). Layla plays peacekeeper, but discovers that both she and Shonte are members of Mensa, the elite organization for genius-level intelligence, which she clearly finds attractive. Nine months later, Charley is surprised when Layla gives birth to triplets, all of them black. Layla leaves the heartbroken Charley with the kids and speeds off with Shonte. Luckily, Charley adores the kids, who are precocious, off-the-chart geniuses, and raises them alone. Unfortunately, Charley’s endlessly forgiving nature and inability to vent his frustrations has made him into a town laughing stock and ...
In the Soviet Union, a movement led by fanatical rebel Vladimir Radchenko (Daniel von Bargen) overthrows the current government and makes alarming threats against the U.S. and its allies. Lt. Commander Ron Hunter (Denzel Washington) and his friend, Lt. Peter “Weaps” Ince (Viggo Mortensen) are called away from Hunter’s daughter’s birthday party when events escalate. Hunter is summoned to the submarine U.S.S. Alabama by Captain Frank Ramsey (Gene Hackman) as a last minute replacement for his Executive Officer (XO) who has come down with appendicitis. Ramsey is a somewhat crusty career military man and has been a captain for nearly thirty years, while Hunter is brilliant and capable but has little combat experience. The Alabama departs for waters around the Soviet Union, transporting a full arsenal of nuclear missiles that are several times more powerful than the ones used on ...
