Ben Affleck in "Paycheck"
courtesy of Paramount Home Video
"Another Affleck Flop"

John Woo is one of the best directors of action movies around today. He is the force behind "Face/Off," "Broken Arrow," "Mission Impossible 2," and "Windtalkers." So when he signed to direct Ben Affleck in "Paycheck" everyone expected a winner. They didn't get it.

This movie starring Affleck and Uma Thurman is confusing, confounding and just plain dull. You never feel anything for the characters and you just want the whole thing to end. It is an action thriller that doesn't thrill, and a romantic adventure that doesn't click.

I liked Ben Affleck in "Good Will Hunting." I liked him in "Changing Lanes." I really liked him in "Pearl Harbor." But if he doesn't start making better movies I am not going to like him for very long. He is treading on thin ice with his career as the American public can only forgive so many bad roles --and his role in "Paycheck" is a bad one.

I got more enjoyment out of "You Got Served" and I don't even like hip-hop music. But at least in this movie there is some energy and enthusiasm. The film concerns rival dance teams who compete against each other. They actually have a dance off.

Marques Houston and Omari Grandberry play two friends who have a falling out over a girl. When the dance contest comes they know they have to put aside their differences and dance together as a team. But can they do it? Rent the video and see.

The music in "You Got Served" is infectious, the dancing is enthusiastic, and the acting is passable. What more could you want?

Maybe some laughs. Well you get some laughs in "Scary Movie 3" but not as many as you hoped for. The Zucker Brothers of "Airplane" fame are behind this episode of the franchise rather than the Wayans Brothers and it shows. The Wayans knew how to hit the right notes of humor and the Zuckers have forgotten how.

Charlie Sheen, Anthony Anderson, Anna Farris and Pamela Lee Anderson are just some of the stars who try to mine some laughs in this movie. They work hard but very few are forthcoming.

Jet Li makes his directorial debut as well as stars in the film "Born To Defense." In this movie you get all the Jet Li action you expect and then some. This film is action packed and fast moving as Li plays a character who has to battle for what is right constantly.

If you like action, and you like a lot of it, then this is the movie for you. Rent it and play it over and over. The fight scenes are that good.

Finally we have a Thomas the Train adventure for the kids. This one is titled "Steamies vs Diesels and Other Thomas Adventures." This movie is kid fun and uses the competition between steam engines and diesel engines for the plot. It is all meant to be light-hearted entertainment and the kids should love it.

 

 

 

 

 

©2004 Jackie K. Cooper

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