Chloe Grace Moretz played Carrie White beautifully, and she made it seem effortless
925069
Chloe Grace Moretz played Carrie White beautifully, and she made it seem effortless!!  Julianne Moore absolutely nailed it as well!  I'm not a big fan of re-makes, but this one (for me) surpassed the original in every way that makes a great movie!!
3951531
Seventeen-year-old Carrie Bradshaw has finally arrived in New York, the city of her dreams --- and she feels like an entirely different person. After all, she is now in the true center of the universe. But Carrie's clock is ticking. She has just 60 days to figure out how she can manage to remain in what should be her forever home instead of going off to college at Brown University, as her father expects her to do.

After suffering a stolen purse upon her arrival, Carrie had called the cousin of a friend from Castlebury. The New York cousin is Samantha Jones, who hauls wide-eyed Carrie off to quite the introduction to the big city in the form of a wild all-night party. When Carrie finally does arrive at her own "apartment," she's appalled to see the size of her little cubicle and how weird her new landlady acts.

At least her friend George from Castlebury is in the city, too. George has a summer job at the New York Times. But when Carrie meets with him, he gives her bad news. He's being sent away to Washington D.C., where he can do some "real reporting." This leaves Carrie feeling both deserted and strangely liberated since she'd expected George to acclimate her to the big city as they'd planned. George does give her advice before he leaves, telling her to go to her writing class, work hard --- and avoid crazy people (like that's going to happen!)

The next morning, a stranger calls Carrie, announcing she discovered her stolen bag in a garbage can. The two agree to meet in front of Saks so Carrie can retrieve it. Carrie is a bit taken aback when the stranger turns out to be an outspoken young woman with short, dyed red hair who is protesting porn. Carrie doesn't get her name, but (not so unexpectedly, but quite satisfyingly for fans of the TV series) Miranda Hobbes has not vanished forever from Carrie's life.

Carrie freely admits that her curiosity frequently trumps her better judgment. That's why she agrees to visit a man she encountered at her very first New York City party. This new friend/crush is the handsome, older Bernard Singer, who happens to be a famous playwright. Their relationship is soon convoluted, complicated by Carrie's recent ambition to also write a play.

This is another highly satisfying addition to the Carrie Bradshaw backstory. As we might expect, the plot centers on guys and romance, writing and ambition, plus the strong friendships Carrie is genius at (along with her unique and colorful fashion sense). These might be predictable subjects for a Carrie Bradshaw book, but they are somehow handled freshly, making for yet another purely enjoyable and gripping read. Meeting up with the young versions of Samantha and Miranda underscores the knack Candace Bushnell has for creating endearing characters true to their essences; they seem like flesh-and-blood people. Readers will surely relate to Carrie's sympathetic but sassy commentary on New York City in the '80s.

We can only hope that we get the opportunity to vicariously enjoy another of Carrie's adventures soon.

  --- Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon
1453372
The 5 stars goes to the lead, Jennifer Beals and Laurel Holloman.  These two actresses make it look natural and believable.  They look comfortable and convincing playing the "stable committed" couple  amongst the trendy, thin, beautiful, typical,  Los Angeles gay women on the first season of HBO's  "The L World."  At least that's the impression I got

Remember  that  boring English assignment back in middle school, "write an essay explaining what a peanut butter jelly sandwich is to a martian who just arrived on earth."  Well, if you are living in the suburbs and isn't really familiar with gay life in Los Angeles, or much less about gay life,  this tv show might be that essay.  Or is it?

But enough with the social anthropology, back to the opinion page.  I think Jennifer Beals is just gorgeous to look at, when she smiles , her whole face smiles.  She is very sincere as the Alpha female in this relationship and when she's with Laurel, they really seem like they are a couple struggling with a saggy, seven year relationship.  The writers of the show put a lot of effort in mapping out the various characters and how they fit with each other but it's great that they put a lot of considerations in the Beals and Holloman characters.  There are a lot of eye cathcing scenes like the one where Bette (Beals) though that she was still struggling with the advances of an attractive female and whispers "I'm sorry I can't,"  but walla, it's Tina (Holloman) giving her a bear hug from behind.  The first episode ended with Bette and Tina in an intense, intimate embrace and that's also how the season ended although the love making was done after a violent confrontation.  Beals and Chaiken did an audio commentary on the first disc and pointed out that the first love scene was difficult to shoot and had to be choeographed meticulously, it would have been nice if the two did the same on the last disc.  I was interested to know how much effort it took to shoot that last scene.  It was a very effective scene  but  Beals and Holloman must have had some misgivings  or at least some difficulties  in filming this scene.  Well, if you already own the DVD or plan on watching it, you will know what I mean..  It  was kinda hard to watch, but this kind of thing, I think happens to a lot of straight couples as well.  I will agree that the DVD didn't have enough stuff in it, but I do advice that you might want to rent it first before buying. Three stars have to go to the DVD itself.
1283512
I don't know why I keep watching remakes, because it seems like I am always disappointed. I suppose I feel that with all the new technology to come along in the past 30 years, these films will only get better once they are enhanced and edited, but the truth is that they are always missing something important, and rarely do justice to the original. The remake of Carrie isn't all that different from the original, just modernized, as Carrie is a loser, who with puberty discovers an amazing power. She tries to hide it, but when pushed, ultimately uses it for evil, it's a classic Stephen King story, that most people already know and there in lies part of the problem. Assuming that most people know the story, a lot of information about Carrie is omitted, leaving the film little to go on. They quickly jump into the story and for a long time have nowhere to go with it. Kick-Asses Chloe Moretz stars as Carrie, and while her performance was outstanding, it is wasted in this film. They really played up the religious angel and Carrie's mother, played poorly by Julianna Moore. Yes, it was creepy and that's what they wanted, but it was so over the top and in your face, that it quickly becomes tiresome. The producers of this film had all the tools to recreate this Horror classic, but fail miserably, as their take on the story was abbreviated and way over the top.
1133372
This movie looked predictable, and maybe a tad bit boring.  That I gave it a try in the first place can be blamed on having too much time on my hands, and nothing to lose as it is free to stream for Prime members.  But this one stepped beyond the usual boundaries of the "road trip film" formula, without ever quite breaking through the realism barrier -- a fine line to walk.  It had some truly laugh-out-loud moments for me, and some beautiful settings, but the real redeeming qualities all lay with the acting.  Each character was so well done, that this alone breathed life into what would otherwise have been a mediocre script.  I found the ending to be a little bit less conclusive than I would have liked, but the pacing was decent, and it did have an over-all feeling of completion, and the scenes mostly flowed well together.  Not a show stopper, but better than 50% of what they regularly show in theaters, so if you are looking for something sweet and sentimental, you may enjoy this.
3077787
I was watching the White Princess, the historical facts are a wee bit different then the White Queen.  But the story is almost mirror image of both plot lines.  The performances are excellent, as well as the period costumes, ships, furniture etc.  I thoroughly enjoyed this first season.  The only thing I have to say jokingly is, that with all the rivalry and everyone plotting & killing one another it was madding.  I am waiting for the 2nd season to come out.
2730331
She is victim at school and at home. The only bright spot in her life is when she begins to discover her power. This one dimensionality makes her seem stereotypical and uninteresting. She was written and directed that way and so Ms. Moretz played her that way. Nothing really new about her for the audience in this remake. The young women bullying her were also one dimensional. No clue why the meanest one was so mean to her. And the dialogue was odd: characters who'd known Carrie from grade school referred to her as Carrie White, as if there were multiple, stick-out-like-a-sore-thumb Carrie's running around. Weird. Most schools have multiple students with the same name, but if the other student Carrie's aren't important to the story, why have the main character referred to so oddly. Suspect the filmmakers wanted the way the other characters spoke about her as meant to tell audience that she was so weird the locals used her entire name in their small town, but the use only came off as unauthentic and fake as kids in real life wouldn't speak this way. Special effects were good, acting was fine, as I said abit one note but okay. I liked that the filmmakers updated the story and put in cell phones and cyber bullying but I wish they'd updated Carrie's characterization as well, to show something more, preferably something interesting, about her. A hobby, a special interest (other than her emerging power), anything that would've filled her out abit. 2 and a 1/2 stars.
901943
This set offers the best transfers so far with crystal clear resolution and strikingly vibrant colours. For the first time 5.1 surround sound has been applied to each episode. In fact, the show looks and sounds better then when it originally aired on HBO. Unfortunately, the amount of supplemental material is still on the skimpy side but the quality of the show is what counts.
"When you are single and live in New York, there is no end to the ways to fill your day. Museums, parks, theaters, concert halls, night clubs and countless restaurants." This quote, spoken by Carrie at the beginning of the first episode perfectly encapsulates the central theme of the season: being single in the city. As the season begins Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte and Samantha are all getting over men in their lives.
The best episodes of this season are the ones where our four leading ladies celebrate their individuality. From their trip to Atlantic City to celebrate Charlotte's birthday to Carrie and Samantha's cross-country train ride for Carrie's book reading and signing gig in San Francisco (with a classic appearance by Mr. Big), these characters revel in the bachelorettehood. They prove that older women do not have to conform to the traditional belief that by a certain age you must be married and have children.
Sex and the City's strengths are many, most notably its great writing, fantastic cast and the locations. The show is actually shot in New York City and this gives it a real sense of place, unlike Friends (also set in the Big Apple) which only offers a simulacrum of the city. Sex and the City really captures the high level of energy inherent with living in Manhattan. People are more aggressive, they don't hold back anything and aren't afraid to tell it like it is. For anyone who lives or has lived in the city, there are not only many landmarks on display that only they will recognize but also a few obvious ones that anyone who has a passing familiarity with the city will know.
As for the extras -- one of the show's producers and writers, Michael Patrick King contributes three audio commentaries for three of the episodes. On the season opener, "Anchors Away," he talks about how they set the tone of that particular season and how the events of 9/11 affected how they depicted life in New York City. He has a very engaging voice and conveys a lot of good information and observations on this track. Fans of the show will definitely want to check out his commentaries.
"Interactive Trivia Game" is a bland game where one has to answer questions that pertain to the fifth season. It's a shame the DVD producers didn't take pointers from the Legally Blonde 2 DVD which had the cast and crew actually ask the questions and offer funny answers to right and wrong answers specifically done for the disc. A missed opportunity to be sure.
"Behind the Scenes with Costume Designer Patricia Field" is an interesting look at one of the most important aspects of the show: what the characters wear.
Comparing this set to the first season box set only reinforces the great leaps of quality and quantity that has gone into these DVDs.
4325122
Okay, I'm not gonna lie -- when I started this book I didn't care much for Chloe. She came across as this "Hey, look at me, I'm cute and nothing bothers me and boy am I quirky, dontcha love quirky?" girl and it grated my nerves. In a way, she kind of reminded me of a Zooey Deschanel and while I do like Zooey, I can only take her in small doses. She, like Chloe, seem to be forcibly quirky rather than genuinely quirky if that makes sense.

The plot is fairly simple: Chloe finds herself suddenly ditched by her friends for some unknown reason, (and honestly, in the beginning of the book I would have ditched her, too) then, her school counselor makes her change her junior independent study project and she is forced to work at the school's struggling radio station to help boost ratings. It is here that she is asked to host a call-in show titled "Chloe, Queen of the Universe", which she is obviously not.

While she bothered me in the beginning, I eventually found myself looking past Chloe's "quirks" and "life is so grand" attitude as the book progressed. The writing was fresh and the storyline unique and enjoyable enough to keep me reading. There are a host of fun and interesting characters along the way, my favorite of which was Clementine. Maybe I liked her because she was a hard-ass, but she was the main character that I connected with. She also helped balance out all of Chloe's eternal optimism. Duncan, the romantic prospect, adds his own sense of balance to the book through his troubled back story.

By the end of the book I actually found that I liked Chloe -- somewhere along the way she'd managed to grow on me. Even though she is a little too peppy, I kind of started to view it as a coping mechanism. She is dealing with a lot: Her Gran is slipping further into dementia thanks to Parkinson's, her BFF's have shunned her, she had to change her school project at the last-minute (among other things). All of this would be a little much for some people to handle, but not Chloe. Somehow, she manages to turn the situation into something good -- something she can learn from. I think maybe we could all learn a little something from Chloe.

If you're looking for a fun, light read full of sunshine and puppies, real teen issues, and a surprisingly well-rounded cast, then check this one out.

(Review based on an Advanced Reader's Copy courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley)
2140977
Teen actress Alyson Stoner (Cheaper by the Dozen),  portrays Alice McKinley in "Alice Upside Down," a young girl whose life is disrupted when her father moves her and her brother to a new town a few years after her mother has died. Luke Perry (Beverly Hills 90210) plays Alice's father, Ben McKinley, and Lucas Grabeel (High School Musical) plays her brother, Lester, in a movie that feels a lot like a Disney made-for-TV special. While most of Alice's problems stem from the fact that she has been struggling to figure out how best to behave like a lady without much in the way of a female role model since her mother died several years earlier, she is also unusually challenged by innate clumsiness and tone deafness.

The joy of watching Alice come to terms with each setback and embarrassment is what makes "Alice Upside Down" most fun, and young girls will enjoy the vicarious thrill of seeing someone so smart and pretty bumbling through the kinds of situations that most of us run into much more than we'd like in adolescence. Some of the issues dealt with in "Alice Upside Down" feel heavy at times, as Alice confronts her father about his difficulty integrating poignant memories of the past (in the form of old home movies and pictures of his wife) with the new life he's building in the new house and town.

While the main story line of how Alice can develop her sense of identity in a new town even when things seem to keep going wrong is fairly good, there are some choppy aspects to "Alice Upside Down."  The movie's frequent use of voice-over narrative in which Alice looks and speaks directly to the camera kept reminding me that this is "just a movie," and the character development seemed a bit flat and two-dimensional. I would have loved to know more about the other characters than this movie showed... such as why Alice's dad started dating and then suddenly stopped, for example.

One of the strong points of "Alice Upside Down" is that the actors are fabulous and the cast is strong enough to really hold viewer interest, so even predictable plot development and a made-for-TV vibe didn't dissuade me from watching the movie all the way through to the end. I really loved seeing Penny Marshall playing the role of Mrs. Plotkin, Alice's teacher, and I loved the heart-warming ending of the film in which Alice gained an appreciation for true friends in unexpected places.

I recommend this movie for fans of Alyson Stoner, Luke Perry, Lucas Grabeel, and Penny Marshall... and young girls who can handle a movie that deals with serious issues of mortality (death and illness).
1010416
The cinematography and the lighting of each scene is superb. When the reporter (played by Kate Hudson) remarks that the main character's movies include each shot that's like a postcard, one can't help but relate to the comparison for this film. Yet, the movie's plot is thin and the bottom line is even thinner. One doesn't relate or feel even the slightest hint of sympathy for the director who is having a middle-life crisis and who is strangely played by Daniel-Day Lewis.

Penelope Cruz's musical opening number is the best thing in the movie. Having said that, I think it's uncalled for to give Penelope an Oscar nomination for her role in "NINE." She might be the best thing about the movie, but that's not saying much. Also, Cruz has had so many more outstanding performances that went unnoticed it's almost sacrilegious to recognize this performance over the others. Particularly, her performance in "Elegy" was breathtaking.

The biggest surprise about this movie is perhaps Fergie's musical number - it's more upbeat and dramatic than the rest of the film.

On their own, there are likable characters in this film - the costume designer played by Judi Dench. Still, it's not enough to save this film and, definitely, this is not a film of Oscar caliber.
4311648
I must strongly disagree with the vast array of critics who have undervalued this film, but I am not surprised. The robotic critics looking for a film to please THEM conveniently forgot that Angelina Jolie made a film to honor Louis Zamperini and she has done that in spades. Perhaps the critics forgot that this film was produced by the highly competent Coen Brothers or that the Cinematographer was world-renowned Roger Deakins, or that the theme music was developed by world-renowned Alexandre Desplat. And with all that, it never even occurred to the critics that perhaps Jolie did not WANT to talk about Zamperini's born-again evangelism, out of respect to his deceased ardent Roman Catholic family ? Jolie is not stupid, but the critics seem to be. I have rarely seen a film so devoid of artifice, so lacking in pretentiousness, so humane in its brutality that I am quite certain the critics also missed the obvious metaphor between Louis holding the heavy wooden piece above his head and Jesus on the Cross. You have to be a nitwit to have missed that. No, the critics, in their conceit and self-adornment, have forgotten what traditional filmmaking is all about.  In avoiding cliches, avoiding artifice, not seeking absolute perfection, and placing trust in her Producers and Cinematographer, Angelina Jolie has managed to produce a film, few Directors today are capable of making, a film that honors its subject matter with sincerity, rather than a film that attempts to honor its director, with grandiosity. It is this that the critics missed, I did not, and Angelina Jolie has the last word on the life of Louie Zamperini, and not those who neither met him, nor even bothered to read about him. This is a movie for those who honor movies and people and not awards.
2894366
I caught a few random episodes and remained vaguely disinterested, but I've grown to love the show on dvd. The point where I realised the show had more going for it than just rich girls being high maintenance was the part where Nicole's making fun of the baseball players' stretching, "Can you guys do it at the same time ... and touch each other while you do it", and then trying to convince the opposing team's coach to cheer for her team, all the while Paris is just standing around trying to look pretty. Maybe Paris would actually be cool if she wasn't doing the fake cutesy voice and persona all the time, who knows, but anyone who finds the world at large to be an oppressively formal place will find comfort in Nicole's irreverent vulgarity.
4307322
Julia Roberts gave a brilliant performance here as Erin Brockovich, a single mother who's temper is about as short as her skirts.  When she loses her case against the doctor who caused the car accident she was involved in she somewhat forces her way into a clerical job at the law offices of Ed Masry (Albert Finney), the lawyer that lost her case.  After reading a few files and growing genuinely concerned about a few clients Erin decides to investigate a case involving poisoned water supply that is slowing killing off the residents in Hinkley, California.  Julia gives such an effortless performance here that she doesn't even appear to be acting.  Everything is so natural, and that can be said for her cast mates as well.  Albert Finney is brilliant as the lawyer who's as offset as he is intrigued by his new employee's personality.  He perfectly compliments her in every scene they share, and the same can be said for Aaron Eckhart who plays George, Erin's neighbor who falls in love with her and offers her the stability she's always needed and never received.  This film, if nothing else, is a beautiful canvas for these talented actors, but acting aside, the script helps move the film along effortlessly and smoothly offering a top notch movie experience that never grows weary or tired.
453256
EFFICIENCY is an incredible showcase for rising indie star Steven Molony, who plays troubled twin brothers in this slice-of-life drama. While the filmmaking leaves a little to be desired, the minimalist approach does fit the story well, and certain elements (such as the incredible score and performances by the actors) work wonders to elevate the film. What really stands out is Molony's performance, as the actor really launches himself into both parts with a deft subtlety which will no doubt make him rank amongst one of the greats one day. A strong indie filmmaking experience, well worth the watch.
1808288
I have read alot of reviews written here that says this movie will appeal to preteen girls.  I like to think that even pre-teen girls have more sense than to like this dreck.

First there's Harnett playing a slack-jawed yokel.  I think the emotion he's trying to convey is his undying love for Sam (Sobieski's character), however, he just comes across as a rather dim bumpkin.  Although Chris Klien has an awesome physique, he seems to be capable of only two facial expressions. And Sam (Sobieski) is a typical Mary Sue kind of character with long luxurious blonde hair that looks great regardless of the circumstances and who is nauseatingly sweet and dewy eyed throughout the entire movie.  She is simply too good to be true.  The writers of this movie should NEVER be allowed to inflict their "skills" on the movie going public ever again.  The only saving grace I felt toward this movie was that I saw it on TV and did not waste money on a ticket to see it in a theater.
3817983
The Actors are recycled, but don't let that put you off! Robyn Malcom plays a great Cheryl West, she has certainly moved on and upwards from her days as nurse Ellen Crozier on Shortland Street. Malcom certainly does justice to the character the creator wanted to portray. Rachel Lang first came up with the idea after discovering the daunting income statistics in New Zealand. Malcom's character Cheryl is a fine example of many women in New Zealand - she is the glue that holds the family together, however her family often under-estimate her abilities and importance in the everyday family unit. Grant Bowler who appeared in 'Always Greener' adds to the shows hilarity providing a Male typecast-the New Zealand Bloke. Wolfgang 'Wolf' West only wants the best for his family, even if following the West way of life may not be the best way of life. The biggest surprise in the show has to be Antonia Prebble who plays Loretta West, a rebellious 15 year old. Although 21, Prebble manages to pull off the baby West. Clever, witty and motivated - so long as there is something in it for her.

The story lines may not be completely original (ahem *clears throat* think Desperate Housewives), but rest assured, it all has a nice little Kiwi twist, not to mention the endless one liners that will leave you thinking "Is this really a New Zealand show?"

Outrages fortune has a 'trailer trash' feel to it which guarantees some non-PC humour, however don't be blanketed by this cover, there is a moral in there somewhere, after all it is a comedy/drama.