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Nominated for six Academy Awards, and winner of three, Memoirs Of A Geisha holds its own as one of the best films of 2005. Veteran Hollywood screenwriter Robin Swicord does a superb job of adapting Arthur Golden’s bestselling novel to the big screen. This film has all the elements of a classic drama – jealousy, politics, intrigue, forbidden love, and an abundance of internal and external conflicts of varying types. Viewers in search of a typical Hollywood blockbuster will be greatly disappointed, but those who appreciate a good character-driven film which takes the time to develop the motivations of its cast and build to a climax will discover a splendid gem which offers a welcome escape from reality.
Memoirs Of A Geisha is narrated from the viewpoint of a nine year-old Japanese girl named Chiyo (Ziyi Zhang). Born into a poor fishing family, Chiyo and her sister are sold into slavery by their father. Chiyo is soon separated from her sister and finds herself in a geisha house where her new master, Mother (Kaori Momoi), will determine her destiny. Although only nine years of age, Chiyo sparks the ire of the much older Hatsumomo (Li Gong), the most celebrated geisha of the house, who accurately perceives Chiyo as a fitting rival.
Li Gong is excellent in her role as the vindictive, yet human, adversary, and her character manages to have Chiyo removed from geisha school and condemned to the life of a common slave. However, Chiyo’s life takes a turn for the better following a chance encounter with The Chairman (Ken Watanabe). Flanked by two geisha, The Chairman extends his kindness to Chiyo, prompting her to develop a lifelong crush and to dream of one day becoming a geisha herself. Chiyo’s wish comes true when a geisha from another house, Mameha (Michelle Yeoh), offers to personally train her, setting up an inevitable conflict between the two and Hatsumomo and her understudy. Meanwhile, the horrors of war and her lifelong pursuit of The Chairman’s love burden Chiyo with additional hardships.
Although some traditionalists and geisha experts might take issue with the portrayal of geishas in general, the film certainly offers an interesting glimpse into a world and culture most Americans will find intriguing. Despite its two hour and twenty-five minute running time, Memoirs Of A Geisha is a captivating film that seems much shorter in duration. Like most films adapted from a novel, those who enjoyed the book will either love it or hate it depending on how well they perceive the switch to the big screen. But even those who hate it must admit that the costume and set design are exquisite and leave little room for improvement. At times, the cast speaks with heavy accents which can be confusing at moments, but overall, the scenes flow well from one to the next. With the exception of some American actors near the conclusion (Ted Levine of Monk fame plays a US Army Colonel), the majority of the cast is composed of Chinese and Japanese actors/actresses who are relatively unknown to American audiences – although Ken Watanabe might be recognizable given recent roles in The Last Samurai (2003) and Batman Begins (2005). The utilization of this cast helps focus audience attention on the merits of the film itself and not on a cast of stars, and this helps, rather than hinders, the film. As such, Memoirs Of A Geisha is a film most fans of the genre will thoroughly enjoy.
Britt’s Rating: 8.6/10.0
About the Author
Britt Gillette is author of The DVD Report, a movie and television review blog where you can find more reviews just like this one. All of Britt's reviews are available for reprint by other websites under the following Terms of Service.
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Ferris Bueller's Day Off (DVD)
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One of a handful of films which epitomizes the 1980s decade, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off captured the imagination of high school kids all across America as they dreamt of mimicking the title character’s ability to manipulate the authority figures in his life. Written and directed by John Hughes, the brains behind The Breakfast Club (1985) and numerous other 1980’s cult classics, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off launched Matthew Broderick’s acting career into another dimension. In fact, Broderick garnered a Golden Globe nomination for his outstanding performance. It’s a nomination more than worthy of mention, because it’s the strength of the Ferris Bueller character that made this film such a smash hit.
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off follows a day in the life of high school senior Ferris Bueller. Nearing graduation, he’s intent on living his life to the fullest (although preferably outside the confines of school). So Ferris takes a planned day of vacation with his girlfriend Sloane (Mia Sara), and after a little coaxing, his best friend Cameron (Alan Ruck) joins them. Against Cameron’s better judgment, the three drive his father’s prized Ferrari into the windy city of Chicago for a day of fine dining, baseball, museums, and spontaneous fun. Meanwhile, Ferris may have successfully fooled his parents into believing he’s deathly ill, but high school principal Ed Rooney (Jeffrey Jones) and Ferris’s jealous sister Jeanie (Jennifer Grey) are not so easy. Intent on shattering his golden boy image, each one is hot on his trail, anxious to expose his web of deceit once and for all.
With a number of hilarious scenes, such as Cameron’s feeble attempt to reverse the mileage on his father’s Ferrari, the film earns its reputation as an elite classic of the 80’s, on par with hits like Back To The Future (1985), The Breakfast Club (1985), and Weird Science (1985). The film does have its off-the-wall moments, such as when Ferris takes over a parade and starts singing while thousands of spectators engage in synchronized dancing. You wouldn’t see such a sequence in a contemporary film, and like similar scenes from The Blues Brothers, it tends to date the film. But the strength of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off is not its timeless humor, but the likeability of Ferris Bueller himself. Ferris is a cool guy. He doesn’t put anyone down, but only looks for the best in people. More importantly, he manipulates his parents into thinking he’s the perfect embodiment of innocence while he skips school and goes joyriding! Every child of the 80’s wanted to be Ferris Bueller, and the wide appeal of his life philosophy is timeless, which is why the film continues to enjoy success with each new generation.
Further solidifying the movie’s status as a landmark of its decade is the soundtrack, which is certainly one of the more diverse and interesting of its time. Where else can you find The Beatles, Wayne Newton, the theme to Star Wars, and the 80’s classic ‘Oh Yeah’ by Yello all wrapped up into one movie which moves seamlessly from one scene to the next? Throw in a few future Hollywood stars in Kristy Swanson, Ben Stein, and Charlie Sheen (who stayed awake for over two days so he could achieve the desired drugged out expression for his character), and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off transforms into the quintessential cult classic. Even after two decades, this film is just as entertaining as when it first premiered.
Britt’s Rating: 9.1/10.0
One of a handful of films which epitomizes the 1980s decade, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off captured the imagination of high school kids all across America as they dreamt of mimicking the title character’s ability to manipulate the authority figures in his life. Written and directed by John Hughes, the brains behind The Breakfast Club (1985) and numerous other 1980’s cult classics, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off launched Matthew Broderick’s acting career into another dimension. In fact, Broderick garnered a Golden Globe nomination for his outstanding performance. It’s a nomination more than worthy of mention, because it’s the strength of the Ferris Bueller character that made this film such a smash hit.
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off follows a day in the life of high school senior Ferris Bueller. Nearing graduation, he’s intent on living his life to the fullest (although preferably outside the confines of school). So Ferris takes a planned day of vacation with his girlfriend Sloane (Mia Sara), and after a little coaxing, his best friend Cameron (Alan Ruck) joins them. Against Cameron’s better judgment, the three drive his father’s prized Ferrari into the windy city of Chicago for a day of fine dining, baseball, museums, and spontaneous fun. Meanwhile, Ferris may have successfully fooled his parents into believing he’s deathly ill, but high school principal Ed Rooney (Jeffrey Jones) and Ferris’s jealous sister Jeanie (Jennifer Grey) are not so easy. Intent on shattering his golden boy image, each one is hot on his trail, anxious to expose his web of deceit once and for all.
With a number of hilarious scenes, such as Cameron’s feeble attempt to reverse the mileage on his father’s Ferrari, the film earns its reputation as an elite classic of the 80’s, on par with hits like Back To The Future (1985), The Breakfast Club (1985), and Weird Science (1985). The film does have its off-the-wall moments, such as when Ferris takes over a parade and starts singing while thousands of spectators engage in synchronized dancing. You wouldn’t see such a sequence in a contemporary film, and like similar scenes from The Blues Brothers, it tends to date the film. But the strength of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off is not its timeless humor, but the likeability of Ferris Bueller himself. Ferris is a cool guy. He doesn’t put anyone down, but only looks for the best in people. More importantly, he manipulates his parents into thinking he’s the perfect embodiment of innocence while he skips school and goes joyriding! Every child of the 80’s wanted to be Ferris Bueller, and the wide appeal of his life philosophy is timeless, which is why the film continues to enjoy success with each new generation.
Further solidifying the movie’s status as a landmark of its decade is the soundtrack, which is certainly one of the more diverse and interesting of its time. Where else can you find The Beatles, Wayne Newton, the theme to Star Wars, and the 80’s classic ‘Oh Yeah’ by Yello all wrapped up into one movie which moves seamlessly from one scene to the next? Throw in a few future Hollywood stars in Kristy Swanson, Ben Stein, and Charlie Sheen (who stayed awake for over two days so he could achieve the desired drugged out expression for his character), and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off transforms into the quintessential cult classic. Even after two decades, this film is just as entertaining as when it first premiered.
Britt’s Rating: 9.1/10.0
Scrubs (DVD)
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Nominated for 9 Emmys and 2 Golden Globes, Scrubs premiered in Fall 2001 to moderate fanfare and a respectable Nielsen rating of #34. And although the series has yet to achieve blockbuster ratings, it has managed to build a loyal fan base devoted to its unique brand of humor and quirky characters. Created by Bill Lawrence (creator of Spin City), Scrubs is a spoof on the dearth of hospital dramas that have cropped up since ER popularized the genre. In a sense, it’s what Grey’s Anatomy would be like if Ben Stiller were the lead character.
Filmed in a real life hospital (North Hollywood Medical Center), Scrubs follows the bungling day-to-day experiences of medical intern Dr. John “J.D.” Dorian (Zach Braff). Along with his college buddy Dr. Christopher Turk (Donald Faison), the two newcomers must learn the ropes of daily life in an actual hospital setting. But Sacred Heart, their new stomping ground, is the epitome of a dysfunctional work environment. One might easily believe that everyone’s job is to dump on J.D. In getting his feet wet, the young intern butts heads with numerous characters such as fellow intern and potential love interest Dr. Elliot Reid (Sarah Chalke), cranky Chief of Medicine Dr. Bob Kelso (Ken Jenkins), the ever-abrasive Dr. Perry Cox (John C. McGinley), pessimistic nurse Carla Espinosa (Judy Reyes), and a sarcastic janitor (Neil Flynn).
Scrubs is a character-driven show that’s exceptionally well-written, and the acting is superb. John C. McGinley is fantastic in the role of Dr. Cox, a performance almost as memorable as his portrayal of consultant Bob Slydell in Office Space. His delivery is almost as perfect as that of Ken Jenkins who often resembles Lloyd Bridges from Airplane with his uncanny ability to deliver ridiculous one-liners with a straight face. Veteran talents Sarah Chalke (Becky from Roseanne) and Donald Faison (Murray from Clueless) round out an excellent supporting cast for Zach Braff who makes his mark with this very likeable character. In the end, Scrubs is a situation comedy built on the strength of biting sarcasm and clever humor. And although it’s already enjoyed a successful five-year run, it’s probably one of the most underappreciated comedies on network TV. If you haven’t yet seen it, do yourself a favor and check it out. You won’t be disappointed.
Below is a list of episodes included on the Scrubs (Season 1) DVD:
Episode 1 (My First Day) Air Date: 10-02-2001
Episode 2 (My Mentor) Air Date: 10-04-2001
Episode 3 (My Best Friend’s Mistake) Air Date: 10-09-2001
Episode 4 (My Old Lady) Air Date: 10-16-2001
Episode 5 (My Two Dads) Air Date: 10-23-2001
Episode 6 (My Bad) Air Date: 10-30-2001
Episode 7 (My Super Ego) Air Date: 11-06-2001
Episode 8 (My Fifteen Minutes) Air Date: 11-15-2001
Episode 9 (My Day Off) Air Date: 11-20-2001
Episode 10 (My Nickname) Air Date: 11-27-2001
Episode 11 (My Own Personal Jesus) Air Date: 12-11-2001
Episode 12 (My Blind Date) Air Date: 01-08-2002
Episode 13 (My Balancing Act) Air Date: 01-15-2002
Episode 14 (My Drug Buddy) Air Date: 01-22-2002
Episode 15 (My Bed Banter and Beyond) Air Date: 02-05-2002
Episode 16 (My Heavy Meddle) Air Date: 02-26-2002
Episode 17 (My Student) Air Date: 03-05-2002
Episode 18 (My Tuscaloosa Heart) Air Date: 03-12-2002
Episode 19 (My Old Man) Air Date: 04-09-2002
Episode 20 (My Way or the Highway) Air Date: 04-16-2002
Episode 21 (My Sacrificial Clam) Air Date: 04-30-2002
Episode 22 (My Occurrence) Air Date: 05-07-2002
Episode 23 (My Hero) Air Date: 05-14-2002
Episode 24 (My Last Day) Air Date: 05-21-2002
Nominated for 9 Emmys and 2 Golden Globes, Scrubs premiered in Fall 2001 to moderate fanfare and a respectable Nielsen rating of #34. And although the series has yet to achieve blockbuster ratings, it has managed to build a loyal fan base devoted to its unique brand of humor and quirky characters. Created by Bill Lawrence (creator of Spin City), Scrubs is a spoof on the dearth of hospital dramas that have cropped up since ER popularized the genre. In a sense, it’s what Grey’s Anatomy would be like if Ben Stiller were the lead character.
Filmed in a real life hospital (North Hollywood Medical Center), Scrubs follows the bungling day-to-day experiences of medical intern Dr. John “J.D.” Dorian (Zach Braff). Along with his college buddy Dr. Christopher Turk (Donald Faison), the two newcomers must learn the ropes of daily life in an actual hospital setting. But Sacred Heart, their new stomping ground, is the epitome of a dysfunctional work environment. One might easily believe that everyone’s job is to dump on J.D. In getting his feet wet, the young intern butts heads with numerous characters such as fellow intern and potential love interest Dr. Elliot Reid (Sarah Chalke), cranky Chief of Medicine Dr. Bob Kelso (Ken Jenkins), the ever-abrasive Dr. Perry Cox (John C. McGinley), pessimistic nurse Carla Espinosa (Judy Reyes), and a sarcastic janitor (Neil Flynn).
Scrubs is a character-driven show that’s exceptionally well-written, and the acting is superb. John C. McGinley is fantastic in the role of Dr. Cox, a performance almost as memorable as his portrayal of consultant Bob Slydell in Office Space. His delivery is almost as perfect as that of Ken Jenkins who often resembles Lloyd Bridges from Airplane with his uncanny ability to deliver ridiculous one-liners with a straight face. Veteran talents Sarah Chalke (Becky from Roseanne) and Donald Faison (Murray from Clueless) round out an excellent supporting cast for Zach Braff who makes his mark with this very likeable character. In the end, Scrubs is a situation comedy built on the strength of biting sarcasm and clever humor. And although it’s already enjoyed a successful five-year run, it’s probably one of the most underappreciated comedies on network TV. If you haven’t yet seen it, do yourself a favor and check it out. You won’t be disappointed.
Below is a list of episodes included on the Scrubs (Season 1) DVD:
Episode 1 (My First Day) Air Date: 10-02-2001
Episode 2 (My Mentor) Air Date: 10-04-2001
Episode 3 (My Best Friend’s Mistake) Air Date: 10-09-2001
Episode 4 (My Old Lady) Air Date: 10-16-2001
Episode 5 (My Two Dads) Air Date: 10-23-2001
Episode 6 (My Bad) Air Date: 10-30-2001
Episode 7 (My Super Ego) Air Date: 11-06-2001
Episode 8 (My Fifteen Minutes) Air Date: 11-15-2001
Episode 9 (My Day Off) Air Date: 11-20-2001
Episode 10 (My Nickname) Air Date: 11-27-2001
Episode 11 (My Own Personal Jesus) Air Date: 12-11-2001
Episode 12 (My Blind Date) Air Date: 01-08-2002
Episode 13 (My Balancing Act) Air Date: 01-15-2002
Episode 14 (My Drug Buddy) Air Date: 01-22-2002
Episode 15 (My Bed Banter and Beyond) Air Date: 02-05-2002
Episode 16 (My Heavy Meddle) Air Date: 02-26-2002
Episode 17 (My Student) Air Date: 03-05-2002
Episode 18 (My Tuscaloosa Heart) Air Date: 03-12-2002
Episode 19 (My Old Man) Air Date: 04-09-2002
Episode 20 (My Way or the Highway) Air Date: 04-16-2002
Episode 21 (My Sacrificial Clam) Air Date: 04-30-2002
Episode 22 (My Occurrence) Air Date: 05-07-2002
Episode 23 (My Hero) Air Date: 05-14-2002
Episode 24 (My Last Day) Air Date: 05-21-2002
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