Uma Thurman in "Kill Bill Volume 1"
courtesy of Disney Home Video
"Uma, The Action Heroine"

Hollywood careers have a tendency to go in cycles. A few years ago Uma Thurman's career was in the doldrums. Now thanks to Quentin Tarentino and a two-part film titled "Kill Bill," she is back in demand. And rightly so. She has replaced Sigourney Weaver (who?) as the female action figure on the big screen.

"Kill Bill, Volume 2" is in theaters now and "Kill Bill, Volume 1" is being released on video/DVD. The first movie is chock full of violent images and scenes of stunning beauty. Vivica A Fox and Lucy Liu portray the two hired assassins against whom Uma is seeking revenge. Fox is okay in her role while Liu nails hers to the wall.

Because of its bloodbath violence, "Kill Bill, Volume 1" is definitely a movie for adults. But for them, this is a razzle dazzle delight. Even all the bloodletting is so over the top that it is unreal and that helps make the film more enjoyable. You aren't repulsed, merely fascinated.

So take a look at Uma in action in this start of the two parter. She is a fighting machine and not so bad on the eyes either. Go, Uma, go!

What is bad on the eyes is the garishness of "The Cat In the Hat," one of Hollywood's big misfires. This Mike Myers movie is almost unwatchable due to its dullness and un-Seussmanlike conduct. All the charm of the Seuss book has been drained from this telling.

Even adorable Dakota Fanning is annoying as one of the children in the home. Ditto Kelly Preston, Spencer Breslin and Alec Baldwin. But none are as annoying as Myers. All the fans he collected from his "Austin Powers" movies are now running when they hear his name.

Maybe the very youngest of kids will endure this video and actually enjoy it, but most will think it is just Seuss having a bad day. This "Cat" should stay in the "Hat" or in the video DVD store. Don't take it home.

When I saw "Timeline" in a theater several months ago I thought the moviemakers had ruined a fairly good story by Michael Crichton. It just didn't do the book justice and was a mess of a movie containing cliched characters going back in time to the Middle Ages.

However on video/DVD it does seem a bit better. Maybe nothing could be as horrible as I remember it being, or maybe I have mellowed with age. Still I thought this time travel story, starring Paul Walker, had moments of pure fun and adventure.

Now don't get me wrong, it isn't a great movie in any sense of the word, but on video/DVD it is watchable and to a degree enjoyable. Let me know what you think.

I did enjoy "Tokyo Godfathers," a Japanese film about three people whose lives are changed by a baby. The three - a runaway, a racer, and a transvestite - are homeless street people. When they discover an abandoned baby they find this event changes their lives.

The impact of the story is in the kindness of strangers. And that is a universal trait for all the world to seek.

Finally there is "Paul McCartney: The Music and Animation" in which McCartney uses his music to bring animated images to the screen. It is a visual feast as well as symphony of sounds. Forget "Fantasia," this is the DVD to enjoy and keep.

 

 

 

 

 

©2004 Jackie K. Cooper

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