THE MINSTREL/SCHOLAR MUSINGS

Here you will find musings on the stage of Life's Entertainment: Movies, Television, and Music..

MOVIES: Ok, here are a list of Movies that I would recommend. I will start with the last one seen at the theater followed by the most recent one seen on video: The most recent one rented was "THE GENERAL'S DAUGHTER . I really enjoyed this movie quite abit and definitely would recommend it..John Travolta was really good and there was quite the cast in this flick..For a good review I will add links to 2 sites that I always check to get opinions on at the end of this little deal here. 4/15/00....I rented the movie: "THE STORY OF US" ..Bruce Willis and Michelle Pfeiffer star...Michael Riser and Rob Reiner (also directed)...It is a romantic drama/comedy...I enjoyed it pretty well..It was acted quite well and believable . Though they matched on screen there was not any chemistry between them..I would say that it was worth renting though I am glad I didn't see it at the theater...8 on a scale of 1 to 10.... One that I went to see at the theater was the movie 'REINDEER GAMES". Cast included: Ben Affleck, Charlize Theron,Gary Sinise. A Thriller that could have been so much more than it was..It had a good cast and an excellent plot but it just didn't flow right especially during the first hour or so through the movie..I don't regret seeing it BUT I have to say it had so much more that it could have delivered. The last 30 minutes were TOP NOTCH, if the rest prior could have been the same ....I would give it a 6 or 7 out of 10....Hmmmmm... This past weekend (3/11/00) I went to see the movie "Mission To Mars". This was by DIrector Brian De Palmer. Great cast which included: Gary SInise, Tim Robbins, Gary O'Connell, and Don Cheadle. This is SCIFI and running time 2:45. I enjoyed this movie . The story of a Recovery mission to Mars, the dangers they faced and an amazing discovery at the end..Excellent special Effects..THe Cast did a really good job..I recommend this movie ..I would give it an 8 out of 10. This past weekend (4/6/00) I went to see the movie "RULES OF ENGAGEMENT"...with Tommy Lee Jones, Samuel Jackson, Ben Kingsley, and Ann Archer( she pairs up with Harrison Ford in Clancy movies I believe)..........I thought this was a first rate thriller with near perfect performances with everyone involved!... It is a drama about a court-martial of a marine hero who is brought up on serious charges involving Yemen massacre. It involves a BIG cover up and a believably flawed combat hero...Tommy Lee Jones is the attorney to defend and his combat buddy..Samuel Jackson is the marine hero..Anne Archer is the wife of the Ambassador (Ben Kingsley) both are saved by the Marine....I give this movie a 9 out of 10 and is worth seeing!.. 5/5/00 ****This past friday went to see the movie "GLADIATOR"........With Russell Crowe, Richard Harris among others........Russell Crowe portrays the Roman general Maximus in the film. Maximus is the hero of the film, a general who is betrayed and sold into slavery as a gladiator....Richard Harris is the emperor Marcus Aurelius..... A wonderful gladiator movie of epic proportions..It is a gorgeously detailed ancient world, one that is savage and civilized at the same time...Russell Crowe was tremendous in this...As was Richard Harris as always...The rest of the cast did an honorable job....The only critism I have would be it moved a bit slow at the beginning and middle..Had the pace been just a bit faster it would have been much better...I certainly enjoyed this movie...It has brutal scenes but then that time period was a very brutal time....I give it at least an 7 out of 10....I would recommend it if you like this type of movie.... :)