Two of Us (2000) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Michael Linsey-Hogg, the director of Let It Be, weaves fact and fiction into a compelling movie about two of the greatest personalities of our generation.
McCartney comes off a bit too warm in this but its hard to see that as a flaw. Reputed to be a 'cool' person at the best of times perhaps we see through to the real Paul. Lennon on the other hand is accurately portrayed from the clowning to the acid wit he was so well known for.
While the actors don't physically resemble John and Paul that well they certainly come across as them if you just squint your eyes and pretend a little.
Best moments in the movie:
McCartney in a heartfelt moment telling John how during the break up of the Beatles he felt as though he was losing his best friend. Lennons acid response. "We were never that close mate".
A scene in Central Park with the two of them in disguise. Reminiscent of A Hard Days Night is the exchange between them and two mounted police. We laughed out loud at this one and the scene just felt right.
A scene in a restaurant when an elderly couple finally get there nerve up to approach John. They make the gaffe of requesting that he sing a few bars of Yesterday (Pauls song). Lennons response again had us laughing out loud and again it felt as though it really was John saying it.
The best moment of all is one with John and Paul on the roof of the Dakota. I won't attempt to describe this one but it brought tears to my eyes and confirmed to me that the chemistry between John and Paul was truly magic.
This movie brings back a little of the joy the Beatles brought to the world way back when. A celebration of John and Paul and the real world magic of Beatle music.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Two of Us (2000)

Get 27% OFF

Click here for more information about Two of Us (2000)

In His Life - The John Lennon Story (2000) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This is a capably directed, better than average television movie about the beginnings of The Beatles, as seen through the eyes of John Lennon. The focus of the film is always on John and some of the people, places, and events that shaped his early life and made him the man he was to become. As its focus is on John Lennon, the other members of The Beatles take a back seat to John in the film.
The film, shot in the gritty, port city of Liverpool where John and the other Beatles grew up, shows how John (Phillip McQuillan) was reared by his devoted Aunt Mimi (Blair Brown), his mother Julia's older sister. His mother, Julia (Christine Cavanaugh), also lived in Liverpool and he would visit with her, but his father was an absentee one and would remain nothing but a distant memory. John grew up in his Aunt Mimi's household, and it was she who governed much of his early life. It was his mother, however, who was instrumental in John getting his first guitar.
The film shows the viewer some of the childhood places and people that would someday be memorialized in the music of The Beatles: Strawberry Fields, Penny Lane, Eleanor Rigby, and Julia. John's courtship of Cynthia (Gillian Kearney), the girl who would become his first wife, is also grist for the mill, as are his reasons for marrying her. The early popularity of The Beatles in Germany is touched upon, as is the tragic end of one of its original members and John's best friend, Stuart Sutcliffe (Lee Williams). Stuart was an artist who, while performing with the band in Germany, fell in love with a German girl named Astrid (Palina Jonsdottir) and left the band in order to marry her and remain in Germany.
The film shows how John and Paul McCartney (Daniel McGowan) met, as well as how George Harrison (Mark Rice-Oxley) came to join the group. The film deals with the issue of the replacement of their original drummer, Pete Best (Scott Williams), with Ringo Starr (Christian Ealey), when on the brink of success. It also shows how their local popularity brought them to the attention of record store owner, Brian Epstein (James Glover), and what he did to help make them them the most popular rock band of all time. One sees their arrival in America and their auspicious and memorable debut on the Ed Sullivan show.
Phillip McQuillan, whose physical resemblance to John Lennon is slight, at best, gamely tackles the lead role of John Lennon with much bravado, playing him as a bit of a bad boy with a good heart and a dream of rock and roll fame. He also manages to get John's intonations and inflection down pretty pat. Blair Brown does a wonderful job with the role of Aunt Mimi, the woman who managed to put some structure and order to John's early life. Christine Kavanaugh whimsically plays the role of John's mother, the woman from whom John appeared to have inherited his creative juices. Gillian Kearney gives an excellent portrayal of John's first wife, Cynthia.
Daniel McGowan, who actually resembles Paul McCartney in a peculiar sort of way, infuses the role of Paul with an intelligence that is palpable. Mark Rice-Oxley, however, is wooden and does nothing to bring the role of George Harrison to life. As he does not even resemble him, his portrayal of George is jarringly out of place. Christian Ealey, who somewhat resembles Ringo, fares better and does a more than passable job in the role of Ringo Starr, the Johnny come lately who was in the right place at the right time. Last but not least, James Glover give an excellent portrayal of Brian Epstein, the man who shrewdly and firmly set them on the road to rock and roll stardom.
All in all, this is a better than average made for television film. If you are not a fan of The Beatles, especially John Lennon, however, you would do well to deduct one star from my review.

Click Here to see more reviews about: In His Life - The John Lennon Story (2000)

Get 59% OFF

Click here for more information about In His Life - The John Lennon Story (2000)

Penn & Teller - Bullsh*t - The Complete Third Season (2003) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I'm going to say this right now and get it out of the way: The third season of Penn and Teller: Bulls***! is definitely the weakest. It seems that they had hit a bit of a dry spell, and some of the topics weren't as interesting as they seemed, while some seemed to be rehashes of earlier episodes (Ghostbusting being the prime example). The good news is that despite the somewhat weaker episodes, the show is still highly entertaining (Penn and Teller are as hilarious as ever), and things pick up again in the fourth season.
For the uninitiated, Bulls***! is a show where Penn Jillette and his partner Teller research concepts, many of which are taken for granted to be true in society, and thorougly discredit and mock them. Using humor, sarcasm, and most of all, well-researched facts, the duo attempts to show people that not everything is as it seems. Some of the better episodes this year (many of which were at the level of quality that has been established in previous seasons) deal with Signs from Heaven, The Best, Hair, Conspiracy Theories. For example, in the episode about Hair, Penn and Teller discuss why having hair shouldn't be as important as Americans make it out to be. Furthermore, they question why haircuts can cost so much when they interview a stylist who is known to cut the hair of celebrities, and charges exorbitant amounts of money for the service. Hair-care products are attacked, and we also are treated to a bit on the comb-over, wherein it is both mocked and praised when a colleague displays his own comb-over, which truly deserves praise as the world's greatest. In the episode called The Best, Penn and Teller talk about why people's pursuit of having "the best" can often lead to bad results, especially an insatiable obsession. One man they interview is nuts about palm pilots and buys pretty much every new model so that he can have the "latest and greatest". Seeing as how new models come out very often, he is throwing away a lot of money to upgrade to a new model when the improvements are almost non-existent. Sometimes in the show, Penn and Teller show their disgust for what certain people are saying or doing. In previous years, they've accused mediums (people who claim that they can talk to the dead) of conning grieving family members. This year, they attack conspiracy theorists who say that 9/11 is a hoax and a religious couple who are actually profiting off of their comatose daughter by selling merchandise claiming to be a miracle. At these times, Penn and Teller drop the humor and implore the audience and their subjects to see the error of their ways.
After two nearly perfect seasons, a drop in quality was inevitable, and it occurred this season. The episode about College was a little hard to follow at times and didn't make sense (though maybe I'm just a little biased because I am currently a college student). The Life-Coaching and Circumcision episodes were also a little out there. There were other episodes that may have been good overall, but displayed a few segments that didn't seem to fit. However, a bad season of Penn and Teller is still very enjoyable and is better than a lot of other stuff on television these days. Fans of Penn and Teller will enjoy these episodes very much, if not as much as earlier (and subsequent) seasons, but people who have never viewed the show should try to see it on TV before buying (assuming you have Showtime). The show is full of profanity and even nudity (usually gratuitous) and may be offensive to some people. Also, some people may find some of the subjects to be offensive. While I enjoyed the episode about Family Values and the "traditional family", I can definitely see how certain people would find it offensive and even horrifying. As for the Signs from Heaven episode, let's just say that not everyone gets Showtime. Still, if you don't mind a little cursing and nakedness, you should definitely check out Penn and Teller: Bulls***!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Penn & Teller - Bullsh*t - The Complete Third Season (2003)

The third season of this award-winning series featuring master showmen Penn & Teller, delivers viewers an aggressive, humorous exposé of taboo topics, using the duo's trademark humor, knowledge of carnival tricks as well as hidden cameras and blatant confrontation. Winner of the prestigious 2004 and 2005 Writer's Guild Award for Best Comedy/Variety Series and nominated the last three years for the Emmy® for Outstanding Reality Program and Outstanding Writing for Non Fiction Programming, Penn & Teller: Bullsh*t! Continues its controversial muckraking throughout season three by confronting many of the institutions society holds dear.

Get 9% OFF

Click here for more information about Penn & Teller - Bullsh*t - The Complete Third Season (2003)