As if anyone actually reads these. But they're fun to write, so here goes:
Taken (zero broomsticks, not even a broom straw!)
I hated this movie! As one who traveled in Europe alone at age 20, I heard numerous tales about the "trade des blanches" or "white slave trade" or abductions of young western women to be sold in North Africa and the Middle East. Of course this stuff does happen, but not with the frequency this film suggests, and most of the stories you hear have the hallmarks of urban legends. This film's plot is loaded with inconsistencies that you can read about elsewhere on the Internet and that aren't worth going into here. We know what's going to happen before the film starts--the title, duh!--and the movie trudges down that predictable and cliched road until the end. I was bored and fast-forwarded through the last half--something I almost never do once I commit to watching a film. If you want to keep your daughter scared and unwilling to travel and learn about the world, this might be a great cautionary tale. Otherwise, IMHO, it's worthless.
Valkyrie (5 broomsticks)
With this film, couch-jumping episode notwithstanding, Tom Cruise moves completely beyond his pretty-boy image and into the ranks of Hollywood's mature and serious actors. There are no female characters in this film for women to identify with (the wife is a very minor character), and the subject matter is rather dry and, of course, predictable (I wasn't sitting there wondering, "Gee will the plot succeed? Will they really kill Hitler?"). Nevertheless, Valkyrie is compelling, and it maintains suspense until the credits roll at the end.
I love history, and although the WWII era is not one of my favorite periods, I'd gladly rent this DVD a second time, or maybe even buy it. Valkyrie has the perfect balance of historical information, character study, suspense, and action. This is a solid film, and I highly recommend it.
More reviews coming soon!
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