‘A League of Their Own’ Download and Reviews

December 19, 2009 by Paul Wall  
Filed under Comedy, Drama, Sport

“A League of Their Own” Movie Details

A League of Their Own tagline: To achieve the incredible you have to attempt the impossible.
A League of Their Own - DVD Cover

A League of Their Own DVD Cover

Actors:
Tom Hanks Jimmy Dugan
Geena Davis Dottie Hinson
Madonna Mae Mordabito
Lori Petty Kit Keller
Jon Lovitz Ernie Capadino
David Strathairn Ira Lowenstein
Garry Marshall Walter Harvey
Bill Pullman Bob Hinson
Megan Cavanagh Marla Hooch – 2nd Base
Rosie O’Donnell Doris Murphy – 3rd Base
Tracy Reiner Betty ‘Betty Spaghetti’ Horn – Left Field
Bitty Schram Evelyn Gardner – Right Field
Don S. Davis Charlie Collins, Racine Coach
RenГ©e Coleman Alice Gaspers – Left Field
RenГ©e Coleman Center Field
Directors: Penny Marshall
IMDB Rating: 6.9/10 out of 31,866 votes

“A League of Their Own” Movie Review

“A League of Their Own” Plot Summary

Two sisters join the first female professional baseball league and struggle to help it succeed amidst their own growing rivalry.

I Loved It!

I saw this movie long time ago and I still watch this movie. ‘A League of Their Own’ is absolutely hilarious and also has some drama. I think this movie owes a big one to the actors who brought so much fun. Geena Davis plays Dottie Hinson, a loving sister who has some troubles with her younger sister, Kit, and struggles on making decisions of wether she should stay in baseball team (Rockford Peaches) or go back to her home with her husband who just came back from World War II with broken arm(or was it a leg?). It surprised me when I found out that Geena was inches taller than most of the women in the movie. She showed off many fascinating stunts, such as catching a flying baseball with one hand and sliding like a ballerina when catching the foul ball. She was great

Tom Hanks was hilarious as Jimmy Dugan, an alcoholic hitter who became a baseball coach of Rockford Peaches. Jim hates that job, but as the time goes by, he realizes that the girls are very good and he gets pretty enthusiastic about the game and all. I love the part when he gets frustrated and shouts, ‘There’s no crying in baseball!’ and gets on a fight with the judge. Jimmy Dugan is probably one of Tom’s best characters so far

Another great performance by Lori Petty, who played Geena Davis’ sister, Kit. Kit is a very good player, but she gets jealous of Dottie and eventually joins another team called Racines. Somehow, I loved her performance

Then there are other great actings by Madonna and Rosie O’Donnell. They are somewhat nasty girls in the team who happen to be two close best friends. They bring so much joy to this movie and I loved the dancing scene at the bar. Madonna plays her part really well and Rosie is just great as always

Megan Cavannagh was funny also. She played Marla Hooch, who was obviously one of the best players in the team, but unfortunately her looks did matter when she was joining the team. Even though she might not be a best singer (scene at the bar was funny!), she met a great man and got married. Ann Cusack, who played Shirley Baker was pretty forgettable, but she played the sweetest role. Other roles like a player who is a mother of a naughty son (can’t remember her name, though) was also sweet, and the player who lost her husband made me cry. A pretty blonde player who used to be Miss Georgia was good also. Jon Lovitz plays a scout and gives the hilarious lines and I wish he had played more. And don’t miss Tea Leoni as the Racine player! She appears in some scenes, so keep your eyes open. And the older version of the characters looked so much like the younger versions. Especially the Old Dottie Hinson

So if you are depressed and want to watch a funny, witty movie and just have some fun – go and rent this movie. I would give 3 1/2 out of 5 (probably not a breath-taking film, but very entertaining).

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‘Finding Neverland’ Download and Reviews

November 22, 2009 by Paul Wall  
Filed under Biography, Drama, Family

“Finding Neverland” Movie Details

Finding Neverland tagline: Unlock your imagination.
Finding Neverland - DVD Cover

Finding Neverland DVD Cover

Actors:
  • Oliver Fox
  • Johnny Depp Sir James Matthew Barrie
    Kate Winslet Sylvia Llewelyn Davies
    Julie Christie Mrs. Emma du Maurier
    Radha Mitchell Mary Ansell Barrie
    Dustin Hoffman Charles Frohman
    Freddie Highmore Peter Llewelyn Davies
    Joe Prospero Jack Llewelyn Davies
    Nick Roud George Llewelyn Davies
    Luke Spill Michael Llewelyn Davies
    Kelly Macdonald Peter Pan
    Mackenzie Crook Mr. Jaspers – Usher
    Eileen Essell Mrs. Snow
    Jimmy Gardner Mr. Snow
    Gilbert Cannan
    Directors: Marc Forster IMDB Rating: 7.9/10 out of 82,684 votes

    “Finding Neverland” Movie Review

    “Finding Neverland” Plot Summary

    The story of J.M. Barrie’s friendship with a family who inspired him to create Peter Pan.

    Beautiful, Moving Movie with Very Few Flaws

    I had heard that this was merely a ‘chick flick.’ Hey, my wife is the one who wanted to go see it. As it turned out, I went with three other guys, and we all loved it

    Some movies entertain; some teach; some open up new worlds. This movie opened up new worlds. With each passing scene, carefully woven from the previous ones, it was like crossing yet another threshold into another world. The story unfolded deeper and deeper with each new scene, each layer adding not to complexity (the story is rather simple), but to the depth. Depp and the others (esp. the young actor who played Peter) easily lead the audience deeper and deeper into the paths of authenticity, healing, love, friendship and the triumph of inner strength. The other characters, likewise, garnish the central story excellently

    The only flaw I saw is, I’m sure, a matter of taste and perspective; I felt the grandmother was simply too two-dimensional and not as believable as she should have been, though she, too, had some beautiful moments that truly added to the film

    Having much experience with divorce (being a divorce attorney) I found the unfortunate relationship between Depp’s character and his wife believable to a tee: two people deeply in love with each other yet more committed to personal pursuits than tending the difficult relationship we call marriage. Ironically, though Depp’s character ultimately became the main caretaker of the four boys, by following the tender feelings of his heart, he allowed his marriage to evaporate by not following the other tender feelings of his heart

    Nearly perfect. I give it a 9 out of 10.

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    ‘Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban’ Download and Reviews

    September 8, 2009 by Paul Wall  
    Filed under Adventure, Family, Fantasy

    “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban” Movie Details

    Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban tagline: Something wicked this way comes.
    HP and the Prisoner of Azkaban - DVD Cover

    Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban DVD Cover

    Actors:
  • Rupert Grint
  • Daniel Radcliffe Harry Potter
    Richard Griffiths Uncle Vernon
    Pam Ferris Aunt Marge
    Fiona Shaw Aunt Petunia
    Harry Melling Dudley Dursley
    Adrian Rawlins James Potter
    Geraldine Somerville Lily Potter
    Lee Ingleby Stan Shunpike
    Lenny Henry Shrunken Head
    Jimmy Gardner Ernie the Bus Driver
    Gary Oldman Sirius Black
    Jim TavarГ© Tom the Innkeeper
    Robert Hardy Cornelius Fudge
    Abby Ford Young Witch Maid
    Ron Weasley
    Directors: Alfonso Cuaron IMDB Rating: 7.7/10 out of 102,035 votes

    “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban” Movie Review

    “HP and the Prisoner of Azkaban” Plot Summary

    It’s Harry’s third year at Hogwarts; not only does he have a new “Defense Against the Dark Arts” teacher, but there is also trouble brewing. Convicted murderer Sirius Black has escaped the Wizards’ Prison and is coming after Harry.

    Best of the three

    Although this film isn’t all that I’d hoped it would be, I believe that it was the best of the three ‘Harry Potter’ films so far, thanks largely due to director Alfonso Cuaron. In ‘Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban’, the trio are now thirteen and beginning their Third Year at Hogwarts, under the fear of an escaped criminal who played a part in the deaths of Harry’s parents and seems to be stalking the school, preying on Harry

    The child acting in this film has improved slightly with Emma Watson and Rupert Grint probably faring the best in comparison to their young co-stars. Although he is lumbered with a Ron who has once again been reduced to a comic character, it’s a sign of Grint’s abilities that he does well without looking embarrassed or too clownish. Dan Radcliffe was still very poor, obviously struggling to portray Harry’s darker emotions in a manner that isn’t wooden and awkward and and this was very apparent in the scene where he makes an atrocious effort to cry when he finds out his godfather had betrayed his parents to their deaths. while Tom Felton was let down by poor scripting of Draco

    The adult cast were excellent. Remus Lupin and Sirius Black were perfectly cast. Lupin was soft yet stern when needed and you could feel there was a parental rapport between him and Harry, and I couldn’t imagine anyone other than David Thewlis in the role. And Gary Oldman was great in depicting Black’s determination, mingled with an hysterical madness due to his incarceration in the hellish wizarding prison Azkaban. As for Michael Gambon, who was recast in the role of Dumbledore, I felt he was an improvement. Richard Harris was a gifted actor but his Dumbledore had a cold, aloofness to him whereas Gambon was able to portray the warm, eccentricity of the character without diminishing the power and wisdom of Dumbledore. And the rest of the regular cast, such as Alan Rickman and Maggie Smith, were perfect although we expect no better from them now!One of the best aspects of this film is how it no longer pandered to kiddies like the previous two films did. There was a darker, moodier edge to the story and the characters. The wizarding world no longer seemed like a perfect haven and the characters had grown beyond being innocent children; this reflected the book itself since many feel PoA was a turning point in the series where it finally felt like Harry Potter- boy and book- were growing up. The Hogwarts’ setting differed from the previous films yet not only was it definitely more faithful to the books but finally it felt as if the castle was in Scotland rather than perpetually sunny Disney Land and this enhanced the mood being set in the film. The clock was a nice touch, linking to the theme of time in the actual storyline, as was the bridge in being a place for Harry to mull over his problems. Also, in many ways, this film could have ended up a muddled mess in regards to the ending but Cuaron handled the Time Turner scenes well

    However, there were flaws to the film, which let it down. The characters of Hermione and Draco were poorly scripted so they seemed like two completely different characters from the ones we know and love in the books. Although Watson as an actress has improved since CoS, the main problem with the script is that Hermione is being portrayed as being too cool and cocky compared to the bookworm who has no interest in fashion that we know Hermione to be in the books. Steve Kloves, the scriptwriter who admits he’s responsible for the change, really needs to learn heroines don’t need to be cool Buffy types to be admired; part of why Hermione is so popular as a character in the books is that she appeals to girls who are bookish themselves and easily identify with her. And as for Draco, he comes across as too much of a cowardly, weak girlie-boy rather than an insidious, vicious brat who can be a threat to Harry when he chooses to. Also, there was no telling of what Black did to Snape in school that left him so bitter in his hatred and I wished they’d included the scene where he let slip what Lupin was, especially as this animosity between him, Black and Lupin plays a larger role as the books go on. And speaking of Lupin, the werewolf CGI was atrocious. He looked like an emaciated rat rather than the wolf-like creature who leaves even the more powerful wizards quivering in fear. I wished there was more in the ending too as I would have loved to see Vernon’s face when he found out who Black was. Kloves needs to learn how to round the Harry Potter films off properly as this was also a sticking point in CoS.At the end of the day, there were scenes left out, some of which we didn’t mind skipping but others (an explanation to Harry of James Potter’s friendship to Black and Lupin) were sorely missed. It was a great film but it could have done with being made longer or skipping on non-essential scenes (less of the Knight Bus and Hermione punching Malfoy in a manner that makes her out to be a thug) to make way for scenes which are more important. I think I was disappointed because I was expecting something along the lines of RotK but it’s still great viewing. I’d give it a seven-and-a-half out of ten with the hopes Cuaron will return to the helm again although preferably not with Kloves as the scriptwriter. I think Cuaron would be excellent working with a script produced by someone who has a better handle on the darker aspects of the books and a deeper understanding of the HP characters.

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