Jim Carrey in "Lemony Snicket"
courtesy of Paramount Home Video
"Great Book, Not So Great Movie"

My friends who are into children and young adult books tell me how great the "Lemony Snicket" stories are. They go on and on about the cleverness, and the emotion and dark humor that are there. So when I found out there was going to be a "Lemony Snicket" movie I was very excited by the prospect.

This week on DVD you can see Jim Carrey starring in "Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events." It is a dark, macabre movie that doesn't carry over the uniqueness of the books. Instead it comes across as a poor man's Tim Burton film, looking good but providing little entertainment value.

Carrey portrays the mean, miserly Count Olaf who takes care of three children when their parents are killed. He doesn't do it for any reasons of kindness. He does it because he wants their money. The children keep escaping from him but he always manages to bring them back.

Carrey is fine in his role. It just isn't a very likeable one. Meryl Streep also appears in the film as a protector of the children. She is funny but not outstanding. There are some unique "additions" on the DVD such as commentary by the director Brad Seiberling.

A little more enjoyable for me is "Blade Trinity." At least this film has some action - but not enough to overcome the lackluster performances by Wesley Snipes, Ryan Reynolds and Jessica Biehl. Snipes seems to be just walking through his role as "Blade" and that is a step down from the energy and charisma he had in the earlier "Blade" films.

Still any movie about vampires and the fights they engage in to take over the world, is fun for me. It is all a fantasy romp but it is distracting from the everyday problems we face.

Sean Penn and Naomi Watts star in "The Assassination of Richard Nixon." This film is based on the true story of Samuel Bicke, a man who wants revenge for all the wrongs that have been done to him. He decides to get this revenge in the strongest way possible and from the one man he holds responsible for his failings.

The movie is not terribly interesting, but the acting is. Penn is brilliant and Don Cheadle and Naomi Watts give strong support.

Just in time for Mother's Day, there is a "Special Edition of Beaches." This means a DVD with commentary and other "extras." But it also means a chance for Moms across the country to watch the Barbara Hershey/Bette Midler movie and sob one more time.

Hershey and Midler play two life long friends who go through heartbreak and tragedy together. And in the background "Wind Beneath My Wings" is heard. It doesn't get any soppier than this and women love this movie and watch it over and over.

So get this "Special Edition" and give it to someone you love. They will love you for giving it.

Recently Anna Paquin ("The Piano") starred in a horror film titled "Darkness." It is now out on DVD and it is a chiller. It is all about a family that moves into a home in Spain. The young daughter (Paquin) feels the house is evil but her parents don't believe her.

There is a total eclipse of the sun coming and with it comes darkness. It is then that the house will unleash its deadly work against the family. Brrrr, it gives me chills just writing about it.

This film is directed by Jaume Balaguero and he also directed "The Nameless." In this film a woman's daughter is murdered. Her body is mutilated and the person who did it is never caught. One day the woman gets a call from a young woman who claims to be her daughter. Is it, or isn't it? And how could she still be alive!

Both "The Nameless" and "Darkness" are worth watching - and getting scared by. They are thrillers and chillers.

 

 

 

 

 

©2005 Jackie K. Cooper

Click above to find out more about Jackie's books!