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JakeStevens Blog

  • A Good Film, But Could Have Been Even Better

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    Under discussion:

    Yesterday  (2004)

    THE GOOD: The film is shot beautifully and the story is compelling and well-acted. It touches on a subject that is seriously plaguing Africa right now. ***SPOILER*** I'm also glad they didn't show Yesterday die at the end - I feel it would have been contrived and less affecting, because the film ends on a positive note that says perhaps there is some hope here. ***END SPOILER*** THE BAD: They never explain how Yesterday's husband gets AIDS, and while that may ultimately be a red herring not worth exploring, I found myself unable to let go of that question. They also never show Beauty getting tested for the disease, and again, this may be a directorial choice to omit another red herring, but I thought it to be important in that Yesterday would love her daughter so much as to live long enough to see her go to school, the thought would also cross ANY parent's mind that perhaps their child has this lethal disease, too. Other than those few things, this is a fine film that shows how harsh life in South Africa is and how to this day the indigenous peoples of that land live without some basic things (running water, electricity, etc) that we take for granted every day. But I felt the director ought to have made a few more bold choices and reached for a few more emotional highs and lows, so I can't say this is GREAT filmmaking, but still entertaining and thought-provoking enough to merit a watch.

  • Morgan! Come Out, Morgan!

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    I have not seen "I Am Legend" as of this review (which looks like it might actually be pretty entertaining), or "The Omega Man" (which looks absolutely terrible) OR "I Am Omega" (which looks the most terrible of them all), but I did see "The Last Man On Earth" and I can say that, although extremely slow (I kept falling asleep - it probably took me seven watches to finish the film), I think Vincent Price did an EXCELLENT job as Dr. Robert Morgan. But holy crap, there are some really cheesy moments in this film (his kid dying, for one) and some of the worst "extra" acting I've ever seen. I enjoyed the somber narration much more than the terrible voice overdubs that plague the rest of the film. It's sad to me that more people don't know who Vincent Price is - this film offers evidence that he was one of the better actors of his age. This film would have sank without him, and he BARELY manages to keep it afloat.

 


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