Donna had to go into Brooklyn for the weekend and I had Friday off, so it was a perfect day to catch a movie or two. Caught a 1:00pm matinee of MATRIX RELOADED and rented three DVDs for later.

I have to say that I was disappointed in the MATRIX sequel. Of course, knowing that it was the middle installment of a trilogy may have had something to do with it. You kept expecting "TO BE CONTINUED" at any time past the half way point. While the FX are as good, and possibly better, than they were in the original way too much time was spent explaining much we already knew plus stuff that could have been explained clearer and more concisely. It was good to see the original cast back again, though few of the new characters really are that interesting and are cannon fodder as far as I'm concerned. Although I do admit that I liked the Key Maker and would have liked to see more of him.

(TANGENT: Speaking of seeing more of.... You can bet that when this finally shows up on Fox a lot of Keanu will be deleted. :-)

Neo is way TOO powerful this time around and you really have to wonder why, with all his powers, he has to do all that martial arts stuff. A bit at the end seems to indicate that there are still more things he can do that he has yet to realize.

We only have until July to wait, but I'm not sure if I'm going to shell out the money (even $6 for the matinee) after this one. Maybe I'll just wait for the DVD.

STAR TREK: NEMISIS - I watched this early in the day, since I wouldn't be heading out to the movieplex until aroung noon. Like all the better ST films this was like one of the superior episodes of the regular series, blown up big and with a season's worth of FX tossed in. The whole thing had a feeling of both a reunion and a farewell. Various characters seem to be heading to their own fates and you have to wonder if the remaining actors want to put the uniforms and make-up on again.

Patrick Stewart certainly is given more to do and does it better than in either of the X-MEN films. His Picard, like Shatner's Kirk, would never ring half as true in the hands of other actors. On the other hand, I don't think it would be difficult to put someone else into Xavier's floating chair. I have to admit that seeing Stewart driving the buggy in the desert certainly made it clear that he could indeed gleefully bring to life the role of Spider Jerusalem (which he has said in several interviews he would love to do).

You all know the plot from the countless trailers, so I won't bother with that, except to say that the story certainly was more interesting and held together than a couple of the previous attempts to bring together the TNG crew.

FRAILTY - The only other time that actor Bill Paxton set in the director's chair was for the music video FISH HEADS. If this film is any indication I think that Paxton should certainly be given the opportunity again. I don't ever recall hearing about this, but spotted it in the 'Thriller' section of the video store and decided to take a chance. Hell, Ebert gave it a 'thumbs up', so why not?

According to the Internet Movie Database website, this film is not only Paxton's major film directorial debut, but also the first screenplay credit for Brent Hanley. Both gentleman showed themselves more than able for the task. Frailty is a disturbing film, and it's easy to see how it may have not easily found an audience.

The idea is that a man (Bill Paxton in front of the camera this time) suddenly declares to his young sons that he has been visited by God and told to slay demons (who just happen to reside in the bodies of seemingly innocent folks chosen at random). The brothers have different reactions to this 'revelation' by their widowed parent. The older Fenton feels that his father has totally flipped and wants no part of this divine mission, while the younger Adam is more than happy to follow the lead of his father in seeking to do 'god's will.'

The tale is told in flashback, when Fenton (Matthew McConaughey) visits an FBI agent (played nicely by Powers Booth) to reveal that his brother is the serial killer, who calls himself "God's Hand". We see Fenton's growing alarm at what his father has become and his frustrated attempts to bring his younger brother out from under the influence of their Dad.

I really can't say much more, for fear of spoiling some of the impact of the film. If you think you can deal with something disturbing and very, dark I recommend you seek this one out.

When BROTHERHOOD OF THE WOLF (LE PACTE DES LOUPS, 2001) was released in the states, CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON was making waves here, so the PR folks decided to take several scenes of martial arts from the film and basically build the promotional campaign on trying to get the CTHD fans into the theatres. While there are some damned good action scenes the film itself is primarily about the hunt for a 'beast' which roams the French countryside in the 18th century. It's also more than that, as much of the talk centers on the role of the church and the King in the so-called "Age of Enlightenment". For long stretches the 'beast' and the hunt are put in the background as we see the conflicting elements of society dealing with each other. The obscene wealth and corruption of the Upper Classes, as well as their contempt for the lower, and of course for any non-French or non-Europeans.

Into this comes the rather naive Grégoire de Fronsac (Samuel Le Bihan) and his Native American companion Mani (Mark Dacascos, possibly remembered by some as The Crow in the short-lived TV series), who are sent by the Royal Court to investigate, capture and bring to Paris the beast, thereby proving the King's concern and sympathy for his 'people'.

If I was reviewing this for the old Joe Bob newsletter I'd give it the following: 50+ breasts, ax/sword/flaming arrow-fu: Drive-in Academy Award nomination for Monica Bellucci (Persephone in the MATRIX films) as the most beautiful, knife wielding prostitute in all of France. Steve Bob gives it THREE STARS and says "Check it out!"

Whew! I think that about does it for me today! Have a good weekend and save me an aisle seat. :-)



.