The World Is Not Enough
The third Bond movie to star Pierce Brosnan is the weakest in terms of action. Too many people standing around in some scenes. Too many unattractive people too, if you know what I mean. Maybe Barbara Broccoli should let her husband do the casting. There should also have been a fight between Bond and some steroidal henchman of the villain. The schematic demands an Oddjob type. Attempts at humor were strained. John Cleese will do better, I'm sure, in the next three, as he replaces the redoubtable Desmond Llewellyn. Sophie Marceau is lovely, but perhaps too old for the role of Elektra. The plot almost had enough intrigue. A few things were not convincing, but I won't quibble. This movie is worth watching . . . because it's Bond--James Bond.

The Thomas Crown Affair
The plot holds no surprises, but there is no straining of credibility trying to create surprises either. It's a romantic caper flick about two amiable characters trying to thieve each other's heart. It doesn't steal your time.

The Haunting
I didn't see this movie. My sister, Mary, the horror fan, says it was good. But it only made her jump twice. So I guess it only deserves two jolts on Mary's Joltmeter. I have seen the 1963 version, and it is scary without any special effects.

Eyes Wide Shut
It was good to see people over 30, even over 50, trooping in to see a movie. It was good to see a movie, released in the summer, that wasn't mindless crap. It is always good to see a Stanley Kubrick movie. There won't be any more. Cruise and Kidman are not great actors but they are earnest and compelling in this interesting film based on a novel by Arthur Schnitzler that might be unconventional enough to be worth reading if I can ever get hold of it. Kubrick's lighting imparted the dull glow of a dream to the film. The single piano key played repetitively was a nice touch, engendering suspense, but the thriller aspect was not totally convincing. The models in masks were magnificent. But can anyone remove those cloaked forms that were digitally inserted to block my view of what I suspect was earnest, compelling, and interesting acting by the magnificent models in masks?

The General's Daughter
John Travolta dominates a strong cast in this engrossing whodunit/whydunit. When Travolta and Madeleine Stowe interview a psychiatrist at West Point, Travolta puts his hand over his mouth and flicks his eyes and still dominates. The man owns the screen.

Black Mask
Dubbed dialogue and rap soundtrack do not detract from the balletic beauty of this Hong Kong kung fu action movie. Go east, Hollywood.

Entrapment
Enjoyable though not very exciting caper movie. A few heists and a few plot twists and romantic dueling between strong Sean Connery and alluring Catherine Zeta Jones. Ving Rhames is in it too, and he's always good. I have to say that because he is one man I don't want mad at me. Ving's real name is Irving.

eXistenZ
Clumsy, amateurish look and dull pacing. Cronenberg has good ideas for movies, especially for fans of William Burroughs, J.G. Ballard and Philip Dick. It is evident with this mess that Cronenberg's directing talent does not equal the quality of those ideas. After more than 20 years of making movies, there is no excuse for such a shoddy piece of work. The organicist imagery strains for effect. No-budget student films have better explosions. It's over, Dave; get out of the way.

The Matrix
It's nice to see a sci-fi movie that has not been dumbed-down to appeal to an audience of amoebae. Structured so that scenes combine plot development, exposition and characterization with action and striking visual elements. It's not a great movie, but it doesn't give that lobotomy feeling.

Star Trek Insurrection
Another episode of ST:TNG expanded. Frakes' directing has improved to the point that it is no longer noticeably bad. Star Trek is a fabulous concept, which Paramount is failing to exploit. Beam your dead asses to the Typhon Expanse!

Elizabeth
Mundane directing does not detract from striking portrayal by Cate Blanchett. Geoffrey Rush as Walsingham is also good. Maybe a few more braziers or torches would throw more light on the subject. This movie will look very murky on video.

The Red Violin
Episodic story about violin is framed by obsession for its possession through three centuries. Rich dietary variety compared to thin Hollywood gruel.

Saving Private Ryan
The invasion action seems very real. No glamor to the gore. Omaha Beach scenes needed more context, but cost was probably a factor. A few scenes with infantry bunching up--one burst could take out the squad. However, this is a very good movie.

The Mask of Zorro
Vamanos, amigos!
Good script, direction, stunts. Strong performances by excellent cast. Dancing, dueling, swinging off the chandelier. Sword fights, sword fights and sword fights.
Andale! Andale!
Here is a picture of Antonio Banderas as Zorro. Click on it to see a picture of me as Zorro.

The Spanish Prisoner
Very good movie, though the ending is conventional and not totally convincing. Protagonist should drive the action a little more, Mr. Mamet. Rebecca Pidgeon has strong presence but delivery is stagy for a movie.

Nightwatch
Creepy atmosphere worth price of admission--if you enjoy creepy atmosphere.

Lost In Space
Mimi Rogers is looking over camerman's right shoulder while reciting her lines. Technology so overwhelms directors that they can't direct acting. Computer-generated creature--Blawp--was not convincing. Time travel and hyper-drive were not convincing.

The Man In The Iron Mask
C'est tres bon, mes amis. Compelling, intriguing drama. Not enough swashbuckling action, though.

The Big Lebowski
A little disappointing. Coens wasted Steve Buscemi. Some good scenes and some nice touches, but not enough to make a wholly enjoyable movie.

An American Werewolf In Paris
Werewolves and effects too obviously computer-generated. Obtrusive rock track disrupts emotional impact of some action sequences. Julie Delpy very earnest. Too few scenes of Paris. Sixteen years until the third movie.

Tomorrow Never Dies
Pierce Brosnan improving as Bond, but he'll never be physically convincing as 007, never be Connery, nor even Dalton.
Action sequences are too fast and furious for considerations of improbability or impossibility to interfere. Megalomaniacal media magnate plots to instigate Sino-Brit war to improve ratings--as good a reason as any for a war. The hardware looks good. Michelle Yeoh as Colonel Lin is good; Teri Hatcher as the girlfriend we never knew Bond had, not so good. Judi Dench is superb as M.

Click on the film-strip icon for movies I saw in '96 and '97.