Woman in Gold

Woman in Gold

BBC Films etc.

9 February 2015

Historical Drama?

DVD
D+

I would've rather have watched a straightforward historical drama, without the "contemporary" hook.  Simon Curtis directed.

Trumbo

Trumbo

ShivHans Pictures

November 27, 2015

Historical Drama

DVD
C-

Too bad the acting, writing (based on Bruce Alexander Cook's biography Dalton Trumbo), and direction by Jay Roach aren't stronger.

The Tempest (2010)

The Tempest (2010)

Touchstone etc.

September 20, 2010

Fantasy

DVD
D+

While the casting of Helen Mirren as Prospera is novel, like most Shakespeare adaptations, it's not very good.  Director Julie Taymor did the adaptation.

The Prince of Egypt

The Prince of Egypt

DreamWorks

December 16, 1998

Animation, Historical Drama, Musical

DVD
D+

Besides not being a subject I'm interested in, the tonal shifts are odd, like the joke about Rameses's kilt.  Still, the animation isn't bad.  Brenda Chapman, Steve Hickner, and Simon Wells co-directed.

The Leisure Seeker

The Leisure Seeker

Indiana Production

October 6, 2017

Dramedy
DVD
C-

A potentially interesting story marred by consistently off line readings.  This is based on the Michael Zadoorian novel and directed by Paolo Virzi.  Trump is tagged because the movie is set in the summer of '16 and we hear him on the radio.

The Last Station

The Last Station

Warner Bros.

December 4, 2009

Historical Drama

DVD
C-

I found this uninvolving, and I say that as someone who's read Anna Karenina multiple times.  Director Michael Hoffman based the screenplay on Jay Parini's biographical novel of Tolstoy.

[Fast & Furious Presents:] Hobbs & Shaw

[Fast & Furious Presents:] Hobbs & Shaw

Universal

July 13, 2019

Action

DVD
C-

Not my genre but I can appreciate the style and humor a bit.  David Leitch directed.

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Buena Vista/ Touchstone, hence Disney

April 28, 2005

Sci-Fi, Comedy

DVD
C

I enjoyed this at the time and did end up watching the whole thing this time, but I do find it uneven and not as enjoyable as the '80s television series, or the books, not that I was a huge fan of either.  Some of the jokes fall flat, and Zaphod wears thin quickly, but the look is of course great and Stephen Fry's narration is almost worth the price of admission in itself (or this time the almost two hours of my extremely valuable time).  And, yes, this scores pretty high on the Harry Potter Cast graph.  Garth Jennings directed.

Eye in the Sky

Eye in the Sky
Entertainment One
8 April 2016
Action
DVD
D

Sadly, nothing to do with the Alan Parson Project.  Gavin Hood directed a couple years before Ender's Game.

Calendar Girls

Calendar Girls
Touchstone
2 September 2003
Dramedy
DVD
C-

Neither the comedy nor the drama drew me into this story, and I didn't even get up to the main plot of middle-aged women doing a nude calendar to raise money.  Nigel Cole directed.