Erika Hahn's Movie and Video Reviews

Star Wars The Phantom Menace -- Two thumbs up. While the critics blast the plot and character development Lucas holds true to his vision. Great special effects. Great aliens and action. Comedy and drama. I mean what more can you want? The guy sitting next to me was thwarted by trying to count bodies and there weren't many (see how spoiled we are by what the crapheads in Hollywood make us expect in a movie? bloodshed and bodycounts.) Ok, so I went in expecting not to like ObiWan Kenobi and did. I went in expecting not to like this princess chick and did. Cool costuming and makeup. The usual themes about premillenial a child is born who will unite the universe prophesy and how there's always a bigger fish, and to trust the force. I have no idea why they tried to explain the force as some sort of symbiotic organism that lives in our cells. Give me a break. Some of the plot was a bit just well obvious to explain the future trilogy. I still don't see any reason to run out and buy the merchandise for this stuff. See my rant page for an explanation of that. But if you want good ole fashion escapist entertainment you can't beat the movie value of this one. Best of all I had a real live date and he was adorable, so I had fun.

X-Men -- Two thumbs up. I wasn't too sure what I was getting myself into when I walked into the theatre but adrenaline action sequences, good moving plot, excellent special effects. I also became a huge fan of HUGH JACKMAN, who plays Wolverine in the film. An up and coming actor, he is destined for greatness if he can pick good scripts. IMHO.

The Matrix --Two thumbs up. I highly recommend this mind blowing awesome special effects, great plot movie. I would see this again. Keanu Reeves plays this great action adventure scifi thriller about what is the nature of reality, what is the price of freedom and free thinking and independence? One of the best movies I have seen in a long long time. Touched me on a deep level.

Shakespeare in Love -- Ok finally I broke down and saw this movie. I am not Gwenyth's biggest fan but she did a great job as the inspiration for Romeo and Juliet the play. And now I understand what women are cooing over the actor who plays Will Shakespeares eyes. I think the costuming was amazing. The actors do play love struck people caught in a world that would not permit their love. I cried it was so touchingly beautiful this forbidden love. Tragic romantic in me. Sniff. One and a half thumbs only coz I so enjoyed the Matrix. But a must see.

Rushmore -- Although billed as a comedy there were some more dramatic scenes that gave this movie a deepness I did not expect. I was impressed with Bill Murrays portrayal as a middle age man in love with the same school teacher at a private school as the class oddball who is also highly creatively gifted but no one can appreciate him. Gee, can i relate? It was touching and well acted. I think it was an unusual film that handled the subject matter deftly with a comedic eye for the insanity people find themselves in and they dont ever know how they got there and how men sometimes will go to great lengths to win a womans love or impress her even when she spells out clearly how uninterested she is. Handles the human tragedy we all face just getting thru life well. How people love people who cant love them back and how creative people who dont see life the way the establishment do must carry on regardless. I give this movie one thumb up.

Analyze This -- Robert DeNiro is on target as a mafia don with anxiety attacks who gets Billy Crystal to be his relunctant shrink. DeNiro is as usual brilliant and Crystal plays his typical bemused character very well. I liked the plot and although I was sitting way too close to the screen (coz it was crowded) I laughed a lot and that is all I ask for in a comedy. That it be funny. Is that too much to ask???? I didn't think so. 1 and 1/2 thumbs (I did not laugh the whole time, near the end of the movie dragged.)

Payback -- This new Mel Gibson movie was ok. I thought it was very violent. I did not really enjoy it. I thought the main villain got killed off too early. Mel took this role coz he plays a bad guy but the best bad guy. I didn't buy it. Too bad I did buy the ticket. Wait for video release on this one. half a thumb.

She's All that -- I liked this cute adolescent romantic comedy about the most popular guy in school on a bet tries to convert the geeky artist girl into being voted prom queen. Freddy Prinze Jr. is gorgeous, tall dark and handsome. He acts well. He can convey emotions without words. I liked Tim Matheson as the father and the heroine is very strong, smart. I found the dialogue funny and poignant. The scenes jump around a lot. Typical short attention span theatre stuff. Did I mention Freddie Prinz Jr is gorgeous. Ladies go only to watch him for almost two hours on the big screen. I predict we'll be seeing more of him in movies to come. Two Thumbs up.

Clerks -- This video was recommended by Sundance. It is pretty raunchy account of young men in their early twenties forced to work pathetic no where jobs and the trouble they get into and the people they meet in one day on the job. It has it's moments of really funny episodes. Anyone over the age of 50 may find it just disgusting beyond belief and totally lowbrow. But it is in mostly black and white and mostly dialogue. Not your typical fairy tale ending. I liked it for its satirical realism of young intelligent horny guys with no where to put their energy into potentially creative pursuits. Silent Bob is a classic character. I think there was a sequel to this movie in full color with a real plot but much more Hollywoodized than this gritty tale. Ok for a afternoon of rain and not much else to do. Rating 1 thumb up.

Waking Ned Devine -- This movie was filmed in Ireland and I enjoyed it. It is a light fun movie about a tiny village in Ireland who have a winning lottery ticket holder but he dies so they try and pretend he is still alive to claim to winnings for the whole village. Great characters and scenery in this movie. Never boring. Lots of good slapstick moments. Rating Two thumbs up.

Death Race 2000 --This video was re-released classic from the mid-70s. I happened to catch it accidentally. Well it stars David Carradine (remember the Kung Fu TV show star?) and Sylvester Stallone. It is a sci fi tale of a post apocalypse world. The president sponsors a race across the country of tough men and their gorgeous navigators. They race from DC to new LA and along the way accrue points by running over anyone who gets in their way. Very campy. The cars are made up to look like beasts with teeth in front. David Carridine plays Frankenstein, a tall lanky masked man in a tight black zippered outfit with a long cape. He is particularly vicious in running people over. DR2000 has an ironic plot twist at the end. It was funny and strange at the same time. The rebels (called The French) try and sabotage the race along the way. I give it two thumbs up.