Reviews by Al

Somehow I got the feeling George Michael got himself in the news to get publicity for his new album or single.  But it’s actually not bad.  Typical George Michael sound… link

Some gameplay improvements over the earlier version.  Excellent graphics.

In depth look at gay awareness and life through the various decades.  Provides background for those historically impaired.  At least, we should try not to repeat the mistakes of the past, but really the book shows a few dramatic victories as well.  Some interesting background on New York Times and other media reporting, including Mike Wallace’s early reporting, of homosexuality — negative and relatively unsympathetic.  The first chapter is available at the NYT book review archive.

Jim Cramer entertains and strangely gives stock tips matching my own purchasing patterns sometimes, although often the reasoning is different.  Recent mentions: oil stocks, Toyota, Google.

Aniston stars in yet another comedy.  I liked the artistic font animation in the beginning.

Vaughn
plays a selfish man’s man, aka stereotypical frat boy, Gary, who is unwilling to do even the smallest
things for his girlfriend, Brooke, played by Aniston — apparently, on principle.  Later, it’s apparent that Gary has the litany of typical straight male (or maybe just male) issues — inability to commit, inability to show vulnerability, insensitivity, poor communication etc.  It reaches a breaking point when Gary fails to get enough lemons for a centerpiece for a family dinner party.  Brooke initiates the breakup but hopes Gary will come around — she confides to her sister that she just wants to be appreciated more.

For straight guys, there is a sort of nude scene, but it’s shot from behind Aniston.

There is a scene in the film which demonstrates how very little can really
be communicated even though mouths are moving and faces are smiling.  It’s actors playing ‘acting’ and is a pretty amusing scene.

Overall, the acting is well done, and the story holds together well, as is at least a little thought provoking.  And if there’s comedy there is a certain dark edge to it.

The New York Observer had an interesting review.

The cover of the DVD basically gives away the storyline, but the movie entertains through the telling.  It is interesting how Ivory is able to sanitize Shanghai.  The story still comes across as if it were taking place in a British colony with everyone around the protagonist so polished and correct.  Still, it succeeds as most Merchant-Ivory films do, as an interesting period piece.

Despite best efforts to bring to life the story through special effects and better acting, the story is difficult to adapt well.  It has to be taken as a dream of sorts because it is so much like a fairytale.  The witch is a simple one dimensional foe.  I think I must have seen this as a filmstrip in my younger years.  It was much easier to believe then…