Dark City |
The Dark Crystal |
Darkman |
Dave |
Dead Man on Campus |
Death to Smoochy |
Deconstructing Harry |
Deep Blue Sea |
The Deep End |
The Deep End of the Ocean |
Deep Impact |
Deep Rising |
Desperate Measures |
Detroit Rock City |
Diamonds Are Forever |
Dick |
Die Another Day |
Dinosaur |
Dirty Pretty Things |
Dirty Work |
Disturbing Behavior |
Doctor Dolittle |
A Dog of Flanders |
Dogma |
Double Jeopardy |
Down to Earth |
Dr. No |
Dracula 2000 |
Driven |
Dude, Where's My Car? |
Duets |
Dumb & Dumber |
Dungeons & Dragons
Dark City (1998)
(R)
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This movie is very noir-ish, and has great characters and a good story to tell. A man wakes up with very few memories of his past, and no idea of whats happening around him. His search for answers leads him to a man claiming to be his doctor, who works for a strange group of people. I'd say more about the plot, but that would ruin the story, which reveals the truth of what's happening a little at a time as the story moves on. The film is very well thought out, and is very well made.
Links:
Official Sudio Site
Radio Free's Review
The Dark Crystal (1981)
(PG)
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This is a good family movie. It focuses on Jen, a Gelfling sent by a group of creatures to find a crystal shard and fulfill a prophecy made a long time ago. To do this, he must journey out into the world by himself, even though he is still young. The script is actually well thought out and has a few fairly original ideas and creatures in it. Though some of the effects are cheesy, most are realistic, especially the puppets made by Jim Henson's Creature Shop. If you're looking for something simple but fun or a movie to share with some kids, this is a good choice.
Links:
The Jim Henson Company's Dark Crystal Page
A Dark Crystal Page
Darkman (1990)
(R)
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A well made movie of the "superhero out for revenge" vain, this one focuses on a scientist who is trying to create synthetic skin. A group of bad guys try to kill him, but he survives, though badly burned. He then tries to continue his relationship with his girlfriend while he takes revenge on the people who tried to kill him. This movie is made in almost the same style as Tim Burton's Batman movies, and is fun in the superhero kind of way.
Links:
Washington Post's Review
Dave (1993)
(PG-13)
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The President of th United States suffers a lethal stroke, but rather than give up their position, his advisers use a look-alike to make people believe the president is still healthy. The look-alike then tries to do the right thing while caught up in the scam. The movie is actually really funny and really cute, with a lot of good jokes, and a lot of cameos by celebrities and real politicians. The acting is excellent, and the writing really gives you a lot to think about relating to politics. A very funny and entertaining film with more to think about than just the jokes.
Dead Man on Campus (1998)
(R)
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Two collage roommates blow off their courses, only to find out too late that there's no way to get a passing grade in any of the classes. They discover that the collage has a rule that if someone living with you dies during a semester, you get the highest possible grade for all of your classes that semester, so they attempt to find a suicidal student and push him to kill him self. The humor is aimed at a collage age crowd, but people who still enjoy jokes about sex, drugs, rock and roll will probubly find a good number of jokes funny, although many jokes fall short of what they could have been.
Links:
Official studio Site
Mr. Showbiz's Review
Death to Smoochy (2002)
(R)
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Robin Williams is the host of a children's show who is replaced by Edward Norton when he is caught taking bribes. He then plots his revenge on Norton while trying to win back his show. The film is very dark but silly, and while it is not an altogether hysterical film, it does have some classic moments. Well worth a watch for fans of silly dark comedies.
Links:
Official Studio Site
Deconstructing Harry (1997)
(R)
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Another neurotic Woody Allen movie. This time he's a writer who annoys everyone he gets to know. His books annoy
everyone even more, since they are thinly disguised variations of what really happened to him in real life, giving away secrets
others don't want anyone to know. The movie almost feels like a bunch of skits thrown together, all relating to each other.
Some of the skits work, some don't (I really liked the part with Robin Williams). Overall, it just didn't have enough juice to
keep it entertaining to me.
Links:
Official Studio Site
Radio Free's Review
Deep Blue Sea (1999)
(R)
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A group of people find a way to use a shark to create a new protein that might help fight Alzheimer's disease. After one manages to attack a boat, a man from the company paying for the study goes to investigate what's happening. They find out that the sharks have become intelligent enough to try to fight back against the humans, and trap the people in their underwater research facility. The action is good, but the characters fall into the very generic and almost boring category only saved a little by some good actors trying hard to rise above the material. Some great visuals and the occasional exciting scene fall between many tired ideas and bad lines. Overall, several moments scattered through the film proved it could have been a good movie, but it didn't have enough to it to have much bite.
Links:
Official Studio Site
About.com - An interview with the cast and filmmakers
Film.com's Review
Roger Ebert's Review
The Deep End (2001)
(R)
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A woman tries to cover up what she believes is a murder committed by her son. A very well acted and directed movie, it doesn't bite off more than it can chew or turn into a melodramatic soap opera. It simply focus on several days of some very believable characters, and creates some interesting dramatic tension along the way. Overall, worth seeing.
Links:
Official Studio Site
Roger Ebert's Review
The Deep End of the Ocean (1999)
(PG-13)
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A woman takes her kids with her to a high school reunion, at which her younger son disappears. Nine years later after moving to New York, she discovers her son living down the street. After moving back in with his family, the boy and the family must adjust to his rejoining the family. The movie is very well acted and directed, and is much more interesting than the TV movie of the week that I expected it to be. The film pulls off the drama very well without becoming too melodramatic or sentimental, and actually seems like what could really happen. Over all, a very good drama about what it takes to be a family.
Links:
Official Studio Site
Deep Impact (1998)
(PG-13)
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A comet is on collision course with earth, and they send a team up into space to send it off course. Just in case that doesn't work, the U.S. government has set up a group of caves to house a million people for two years to protect form the comet's destruction. The movie is fairly melodramatic, and very predictable, but well acted for the inspirational style of movie it tries to be. The actors and some of the special effects are what saved the movie form becoming too boring, helping it rise above the predictable storyline and the effects that weren't so believable. Overall, only o.k. unless you're a big fan of one of the actors in the movie.
Links:
Official Studio Site
The Original Deep Impact Web Site
Deep Rising (1998)
(R)
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This movie was too generic, but was still a fun action/suspense film. It involves a group of people hijacking a cruise ship. When they get on board, they find all the passengers gone except for a few hiding around the ship. The others turn out to have been eaten by a big monster that got onto the ship. The effects are laughibly obvious, but in a way that I think adds to the fun. The plot and most of the characters could use a little more work, though.
Links:
Radio Free's Review
Desperate Measures (1998)
(R)
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Yet another generic action movie this year, this one was fun but provides nothing that hasn't been seen before. A man who's son needs a transplant tries to catch an escaped convict who is the only match for his son before the police can kill the convict. The characters and plot were o.k. and the effects were well done.
Links:
Radio Free's Review
Detroit Rock City (1999)
(R)
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After a teen's mother burns his tickets to see the band Kiss in concert, he and his friends attempt to do whatever it takes to get in despite the missing tickets. The movie is a very well made teen comedy/adventure film, and people who enjoy the style will really get into the film. Not for too dignified tastes, but great for the "sex, drugs, rock and roll" set.
Links:
Official Studio Site
Diamonds Are Forever (1971)
(PG)
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This is Sean Connery's last "official" outing as 007 (he returned in 1983's Never Say Never Again). Bond goes undercover to investigate a diamond smuggling operation. Before long, he happens upon the latest scheme of his arch enemy, Ernst Stavro Blofeld. After the ill-fated OHMSS, the producers chose to take a much lighter approach, emphasizing comedy over action. Even so, Diamonds Are Forever is surprisingly downbeat compared to Connery's other entries. To make matters worse, it suffers from a ridiculous plot and an anti-climactic ending. Thankfully, Connery's definitive Bond makes this film far more palatable than Roger Moore's debut (Live and Let Die).
Links:
007.com
Dick (1999)
(PG-13)
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A fairly goofy version of what could have happened during the Nixon Watergate scandal. The movie is created around the same idea as Forest Gump: throwing fictional characters into real events. Made mostly for a teen audience, many of the jokes work, but the film tends to drag jokes on longer than they should, sometimes even returning to rehash dead jokes. Overall, just passes as entertaining.
Links:
Official Studio Site
Die Another Day (2002)
(PG-13)
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If I were to describe Die Another Day using one word, it would be LOUD. This is the long-awaited 20th film in the James Bond series, and it has more pyrotechnics-per-minute than any other entry. Amidst all the chaos and confusion, one key element gets left behind. You guessed it - the plot.
Many of the traditional Bond ingredients remain: fast cars, beautiful women, cheesy one-liners, vodka martinis, etc. True Bond aficionados, however, will be horrified by this adventure. It was obviously designed to entertain mindless, mainstream moviegoers who don't care about the 007 legacy. In fact, I won't even bother giving a synopsis. The story line starts out promising, but by the middle of the film, it's practically immaterial. Admittedly, there are several scenes which are quite amusing in their own right (John Cleese is brilliant as the "quartermaster", and a sword fight between Bond and Gustav Graves is well choreographed), but single scenes cannot save the whole production. Lee Tamahori's direction style reminds me of films like Snatch, but it's completely inappropriate for a James Bond movie. Several action scenes rely on computer graphics - with disastrous consequences. Even Madonna's opening song is a joke (her cameo as Verity is equally annoying).
I wish I could say that Pierce Brosnan is an innocent bystander in all this, but I can't. In only his fourth outing as 007, his performance lacks the charm and panache that we've come to expect from him. The supporting cast, for their part, aren't that engaging either. The ratio of action to dialogue leaves little time for character development. Toby Stephens, who plays the main villain, seems more arrogant than evil. Halle Berry, while convincing as a sexy U.S. spy, doesn't quite fit the traditional Bond girl mold - for better or for worse.
So if your a casual Bond fan who's looking for pure escapism and loud noises, you probably won't be too disappointed. If your a hardcore Bond fan, it looks like you got your Thanksgiving turkey a bit early this year.
Links:
007.com
Dinosaur (2000)
(PG)
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A dinosaur egg ends up on an island where it hatches. The dinosaur then makes friends with the animals on the island and saves one family when the island is destroyed in a meteor shower. They then join a group of dinosaurs on a trip to their mating ground. The movie is typical of recent Disney animated movies, especially similar to The Lion King, but is also good for this type of film. The characters are fairly generic, but come off as real, helping to keep the story interesting throughout the movie. The computer animated characters, drawn in over real backgrounds, are really good looking. Overall, fairly enjoyable.
Links:
Disney's Dinosaur Page at Celluloid Dinosaurs: Dino Movie History
Animation Artist's Dinosaur Site
Dirty Pretty Things (2002)
(R)
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A very subtle thriller from director Stephen Frears. Okwe and Senay are two illegal immigrants working in a London hotel. Its obvious that this is a hotel which asks no questions; a hotel where prostitutes and johns have anonimity. But when Okwe discovers a human heart lodged in one of the toilets, he uncovers a dangerous secret that he simply can't ignore. This is a successful thriller for one key reason: the filmmakers didn't allow the "thrill" aspect to upstage the real story. This film, more than anything, is about the plight of illegal immigrants (Okwe and Senay are always on the run, watching their backs, and fearing what seems inevitable - getting caught). The interaction between the main characters is exceptional, and the payoff, while highly improbable, is quite satisfying.
Links:
Official Studio Site
Roger Ebert's Review
Dirty Work (1998)
(PG-13)
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Two loser friends start a "revenge for hire" business to raise money. The pranks they pull are funny, but the movie has too many jokes that fall short of their mark. The acting is appropriate, though not great, but the script doesn't give the actors enough good material. Many of the jokes that do work are really good, though. Overall, just enough jokes to keep people who like this kind of movie interested, but everyone else will fall asleep.
Links:
Official Studio Site
Disturbing Behavior (1998)
(R)
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This was well made for the style of movie, although I've never been a big fan. A group of kids try to figure out whats happening at a college where some of the students are acting strange. It's a suspense/horror movie that has some suspense and horror (which is more that some of the movies in the genre can say), and it was well acted and written. It wasn't the best example of the "Village of the Damned" style of movie out there, but it wasn't too bad.
Links:
Official Studio Site
Unofficial Disturbing Behavior Site
Doctor Dolittle (1998)
(PG-13)
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A doctor finds he has the ability to talk to animals. Suddenly every animal with a medical problem is turning to him for help, while he tries to keep his life in order. The movie is a showcase for star Eddie Murphy, and he handles it very well. The interaction between him and the animals (and other people) is very entertaining at times, and it manages to keep it's pace up well. An enjoyable film.
A Dog of Flanders (1999)
(PG)
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A coming of age story about a poor boy in the 1800s. Most of the movie is spent with him dealing with his grandfather, his girlfriend, and his paintings, all of which have effects on each other through the movie. The film is very well done at times, but also sometimes becomes very staged and awkward. Seemingly unnecessary and pointless scenes are inserted at parts where they seem out of place and the score sometimes starts at distracting times. When the director is able to hit the makes, though, the movie becomes very good in a sappy, Hallmark Entertainment sort of way. Overall, a good movie interrupted by several awkward parts.
Links:
Official Studio Site
Dogma (1999)
(R)
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A woman is talked into trying to stop two angles from crossing under a doorway in a certain church which would allow them back into heaven and destroy the universe. The movie tends to get really goofy at times, but parts of the movie drag on longer than they should and most of the jokes aren't as good as they should be. The film does have its high points, but most of it is not quite as good as it needed to be to really pull this movie off.
Links:
Official Studio Site
Double Jeopardy (1999)
(R)
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A woman is framed for the murder of her husband, gets released from prison several years later, and goes on a mission to get back her child and prove her innocence. The movie almost doesn't have enough going on to keep it interesting, but it manages to avoid coming off as too boring thanks to the writer and director spreading small doses of plot over the whole length of the movie. The movie isn't as suspenseful as I hoped it would be, since the movie tends to drag on and is fairly predictable. (If you're going to give people time to think, it's nice to have something to think about.) Overall, mildly amusing, but the characters should have been better developed to help keep it interesting.
Links:
Official Studio Site
Down to Earth (2001)
(PG-13)
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Chris Rock is a struggling black comic who is taken to heaven by an angel too soon. He then is given a replacement body of a white millionaire until a better host body can be found. The movie is is typical push-the-boundaries-without-making-people-mad entertainment, but pulls it off much of the time. The jokes work often enough and the characters are interesting enough that I was able to enjoy the movie.
Links:
Film.com's Review
Roger Ebert's Review
Dr. No (1962)
(PG)
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The very first James Bond movie. While it may look a bit clumsy and underfinanced, this film still ranks as one of the best in the series. Agent 007 (Sean Connery) and Felix Leiter (Jack Lord) team up in Jamaica to foil Dr. No's evil plans. Ursula Andress makes her unforgettable appearance as Honey Ryder; Sean Connery's Bond is magnetic right from the start.
Links:
007.com
Dracula 2000 (2000)
(R)
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After some robbers let Dracula loose, the man who had captured Dracula and was holding him until he can figure out how to kill him must capture him again. Several of the actors act their parts well, while others tend to be fairly amusing to watch try. The story is fairly generic, but has enough depth and is directed well enough to keep the movie entertaining if you like the style of film or are really bored.
Links:
Official Studio Site
Film.com's Review
Driven (2001)
(PG-13)
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Veteran race car driver Sylvester Stallone is called in to help a newcomer learn how to handle the ropes of being a racer. What follows is the tried and true Top Gun formula: throw in cool looking shots of a dangerous looking job mixed in with over-the-top personal lives that you can still find yourself absorbed into, and make it as fun as possible while still giving everyone a chance to cry. They must have decided to go back to and copy the source for this one, because during the race scenes I started to get flashbacks to Tom Cruise and a bunch of guys with names on their helmets. However, they managed to make this movie just as exciting and almost as good emotionally, so fans of the style of film will want to check this one out.
Links:
Official Studio Site
Film.com's Review
Roger Ebert's Review
Dude, Where's My Car? (2000)
(PG-13)
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Two guys discover that they don't know where there car is, and start going around town trying to remember what happened last night to find it. The movie tries to pull off very simple and fairly dumb humor, and manages to make several of the jokes work. Not for anyone who wants to really think at a movie, but it manages to be mildly entertaining for brainless entertainment.
Links:
Official Studio Site
Film.com's Review
Duets (2000)
(R)
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An ensemble movie about karaoke "addicts" who must deal with the pressures of their lives while qualifying for and going to a national karaoke championship. The acting is great and directing is good, but doesn't make up for an almost laughable script that seemed forced and clichéd in ways that stopped it from showing much real emotion and rendered it fairly boring. Gwyneth Paltrow, Andre Braugher and Paul Giamatti's acting and Huey Lewis' singing were great, but were wasted on a contrived script.
Links:
Film.com's Review
Roger Ebert's Review
Dumb & Dumber (1994)
(PG-13)
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Two guys go on a cross country ride trying to return a suitcase to a woman who left it at the airport. The movie is based entirely on how dumb the two central characters are. The jokes are fairly low brow, but there are enough jokes that work that you should find at least one that you like. For fans of low brow humor, this is a must see. Overall, the film lives up to the title and still manages to be funny.
Links:
The Source's Dumb & Dumber Page
Dungeons & Dragons (2000)
(PG-13)
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A group of people go in search of a staff that can control red dragons before the bad guys can get it. The movie is typical a typical action/adventure movie set in a galaxy far, far away. The plot and dialoge are fairly simple, and young teens should have no problem enjoying the movie. For older audiences, there are a few moments where the movie gets somewhat creative and offers more than just a rehash of other movies, and the special effects are very good. Overall, the movie is fairly well made, but doesn't have much new to offer.
Links:
Official Studio Site
Ernest Hardy's Film.com Review
Gemma Files' Film.com Review
Roger Ebert's Review
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