pharalinga

This wasn't a bad film. Not a really good film either but it made for an enjoyable afternoon. The kind of movie you can watch with a friend and talk all the way through and still know where the movie is going.

It seemed to me that no one cast member stepped up and gave it their best shot. The direction seemed weak and the performances kind of meandered. Russell Crowe, not my favorite actor, was just OK. He didn't get my sympathy. Even Maury Chakin didn't get my sympathy and he is by far the finest actor in the piece.

The scenery was nice. Cold and bright. Skating was good to a point. Plot was weak. Overall rating 4+ out of 10.

Columbia / TriStar are going to have to go some to create childrens / Family theater. The language keeps my four and five year olds from seeing this. Too bad. It was a cute little film and a bit too young for children ten and older. The cast was very good and worked well together. Fox and Lane are always a treat.

Grade B

The armor, scenery and especially the men in this film are fine and worthy of note. Mila however, I found to be simply terrible as Joan. Overlooking the fact that she is far too old, it seemed to me that she portrayed the fanatical Joan just as she was the fifth element. She is a poor actress at best. I was also sorely disappointed in John Malchovich's performance. A first for me that he has not shone. Faye Dunnaway was her marvelous self, however, and perhaps worth the price of a PPV. I watched this movie with several people varying in age from 22 through 52 and no one liked this film. I was the only one who saw it through to the bitter end. Nuf said.