Demented forever!

Advantages: Good Laugh, Original
Disadvantages: Fizzled out towards the end

...Tonight I went to see Cecil b. Demented, probably not a well-known film to you all, but entered into the one of the 2000 Cannes film festival’s competitions. As I had no idea what to expect what I watched was a funny, not to be taken too seriously satire that I personally thought was a good (but not great) film. The thing I liked about it most was it’s originality and it definitely worked to make a pleasurable cinema outing. The film is both written and directed by John Waters (1994 Serial Mom) who quotes that he got the name of the film and main character from a critics review which called him Cecil B. Demille. The plot is based on the fight for independent cinema and is meant to outline the commercialism of the Hollywood blockbusters that makes small budget films grasp at straws. Basically (and without spoiling...

Saul_Walker 16.01.2001 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Cecil B Demented (DVD)

Cardigan v Lucan - a game with fatal consequences

Advantages: Insightful study of events that led up to the Charge of the Light Brigade
Disadvantages: Some battle scenes would not be appreciated by sensitve readers

...Mention the Crimean War and most English people will immediately make two associations: the contribution of Florence Nightingale and the disastrous Charge of the Light Brigade. Asked to focus on the latter many will recall how Lord Cardigan senselessly led his Light Cavalry into action along the course of a valley straight into enemy fire. In doing so he believed he was acting on Lord Raglan's orders, first received and interpreted by Lord Lucan, his immediate commanding officer. Lord Cardigan became a hero, in the short-term at least, until the horror of the event was fully realised. Who intended what, and why things went so disastrously wrong was the subject of much controversy at the time and has occupied many a historian since. One historian who engaged herself in depth on this issue was Mrs Cecil Woodham-Smith. In 1950 she...

Discerna 19.04.2005 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Review of The Reason Why - Cecil Woodham-Smith

A firemaster and Princess in turmoil.

Advantages: Engaging.
Disadvantages: None.

...Christie Dickason brings the characters of the Principessa to life in this engaging novel that is a mix of romance and adventure. The firemaster Francis Quoynt is forced to go to La Spada when Robert Cecil takes out a loan in the King's name from the Prince of La Spada who is close to dying and is suffering from madness. When he reaches La Spada believing the Prince wants him to do funeral fireworks for when he dies he finds out that the mad Prince wants him to shoot him up to heaven! As Francis gets to work he discovers he cannot take his eyes off The Principessa the ruler of La Spada's daughter who is trying to win her place on the throne before her half brother has her killed so that no one stops him from acquiring the throne. I actually believed that La Spada and the characters exsisted before I read the last chapter in...

Mistybrook 25.08.2008 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of The Principessa - Christie Dickason

Cruel Intentions

Advantages: Hot Sarah Michelle Geller
Disadvantages: The ending was a bit of a let down

...Cruel Intentions had won me over from the start with "Every Me, Every You" by Placebo as the opening track. We meet Sebastian Valmont a young man who is extremely wealthy and arrogant. He seduces women for fun and then discards them as a sort of game and even uses seduction as a weapon as we see when we meet him first he's leaving the office of an angry psychiatrist who has been over charging. His step-sister, Kathryn, is not dissimilar. When we first meet her she is in a meeting with a mother of a girl who is just entering the school Kathryn is head-girl of. They are all clearly of New York's upper class of the Upper-East. Kathryn agrees to take on the girl Cecile but despite the innocent performance Kathryn puts up for the mother her true intentions aren't so honourable. Kathryn's ex-boyfriend dumped her for Cecile and Kathryn...

Phelthew 22.11.2008 (04.06.2009) · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Review of Cruel Intentions (DVD)

Where history comes to life

Advantages: Lots of great actors, lots of laughs, a great family film
Disadvantages: Not as funny as the second film

...create fire; Jedediah, the leader of the cowboys, and Octavius, leader of the Romans, are in a war against each other; Rex the huge T-Rex is running around the museum playing with a giant bone; and Dexter, a cheeky little monkey, has stolen Larry's museum keys. His only help is Teddy Roosevelt, an old President of America. But when the old night guards, with the old Cecil in the lead, steal the tablet, even more chaos arises and Larry has to get the tablet back, make sure none of the museum's exhibits turn to dust as well as not loosing his job and disappointing his son again. ~ Cast ~ Larry Daley - Ben Stiller Cecil - Dick Van Dyke Dr McPhee (museum director) - Ricky Gervais Teddy Roosevelt - Robin Williams Jedediah - Owen Wilson Octavius - Steeve Coogan Attila the Hun - Patrick Gallagher Ahkmenrah - Rami Malek...

frankiefromings13 30.05.2009 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Night At The Museum (DVD)

A True Biblical Classic

Advantages: One of the best loved classics
Disadvantages: none

...This Great Biblical tale was directed by the legendary silent film director Cecil .B . Demille .Cecil who was 75 years old when he made this film apparently ,suffered a heart attack during the making of the film, and there was fear of the film being shelved. But a determined Cecil got back within a month to resume the shooting and complete it as per schedule. There have been many criticisms against the film and his direction, with critics calling his style Anachronistic, But the film remains one of the most well known and popular films made in Hollywood. It brought a lot of fame and recognition to its actors Charlton Heston and Yul Brynner. It is a magnificent movie in every way , complete with several still-impressive effects such as the parting of the Red Sea. It is a movie that abounds in spectacle and remains one of my most...

kiran8 14.07.2009 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Review of The Ten Commandments (DVD)

Sibling Rivalry on Another Level

Advantages: Great acting and characters
Disadvantages: it had to end

...Cruel Intentions, 97 mins approx, UK Rating 15 This 1999 movie set out to bring Les Dangerous Liaisons into the modern day; stepsiblings Katherine and Sebastian take sibling rivalry to another level as they make a bet on whether Sebastian can steal the virginity of their new headmasters daughter Annette Hargrove. If he fails Katherine will get to keep his jaguar and if he succeeds he wins the one thing that he can't have, her. On his way to accomplishing his goals Sebastian comes across some boundaries and does all that is needed to get rid of them, poor, young innocent Cecile is just one of the people who gets trampled on in his process. This in turn pleases Katherine, as she wants to reap revenge on Cecile as she is dating her ex boyfriend Curt. But once he gets closer to receiving his prize does he really want it? Can he put...

LIZKEMPO 06.07.2006 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Cruel Intentions

Bonjour Tristesse

Advantages: A readable, short yet satisfying book
Disadvantages: None

...This novella was written by Francoise Sagan at the age of only 18 and she consequently became a french literary sensation overnight, winning herself both praise for the style and clarity of her writing and criticism for the scandalous behaviour of the 17 year old protagonist, Cecile, who's early discovery of sex, alcohol and all things adult was seen as unacceptable in the eyes of many in 1950s France. I first read the novel in French, its origional language, as part of my A Level French literature studies and I decided that in order to ensure I had understood the book fully, I should read it in English. It was only then that I realised what a beautifully written book it is, superficially simplistic but full of depth. The setting for the book is the French Riviera, where Cecile, her hedonistic, libertine father Raymond and his...

ktbellers 30.06.2005 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Bonjour Tristesse - Francoise Sagan

You Have to be Cruel to be Kind

Advantages: Teen movie with a twist, Sarah Michelle Gellar as a brunette
Disadvantages: What's going on?

...Cruel Intentions is a teen movie of sorts, but not a typical American Pie/Road Trip/etc one. Instead it has a far darker sexual theme? Details It begins with Sebastian, who?s been working his way through most of the local girls and is after more challenging sexual conquests. Next we see is Sebastian?s step-sister Kathryn, who?s president of the student body, talking to Mrs Caldwell (played by Cybil?s friend from the TV show Cybil) and her daughter Cecile, a prospective new student. It turns out Kathryn has a grudge against Cecile after her ex-boyfriend left her and fell for Cecile. Cecile?s still a virgin, but Kathryn wants to change all that, and render her ?damaged goods?. She enlists step-brother Sebastian to help, but he has plans of his own. He finds the new head?s daughter Annette is ?saving herself? and thinks she could...

a-true-ben 09.12.2002 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Cruel Intentions

"You can put it anywhere......"

Advantages: Script, direction, acting, plot, ending
Disadvantages: Selma Blair's over acting

...of the new principle, she is a beautiful and wholesome young lady who prides herself in her self written manifesto proclaiming that she intends to keep her virginity intact until the night of her wedding day. New to the school is Cecile. Very socially inept and slightly dim, her mother seeks the help of Catherine to help her daughter fit into her new school and to rise up the social ladder. However, unknown to her mother is her afro-american boyfriend Ronald who also just happened to have dumped Catherine to go out with Cecile. What unfolds, is Catherine plans and ?cruel intensions? come into play as she places a bet with her step brother that if he manages to bed Annette, she will offer herself to him with the promise ?that you can put it anywhere? and if not, she gets his prized car. Meanwhile, she puts in place a plan to ruin...

drewboy 23.12.2004 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Review of Cruel Intentions (DVD)