Reviews
Navy Seals (1990)
Not great, but decent
First off, I'd like to correct the poster below me who said that God "Had a sniper rifle that fired tiny grenades." God was armed with a Barrett M-82A1 .50 caliber BMG. It is a current special forces rifle and is fully capable of (and often used for) putting a bullet all the way through a truck's engine, a foot of solid metal plate, or, as often shown in the movie, wimpy little concrete or cement block walls.
Anyway...
This movie is certainly not a feast for the brain, but neither is it intellectually devoid. The issue with the journalist in the movie is startlingly relevant in today's world, for example. I doubt it was intentional; it's likely that it was put in as a weak attempt at adding conflict and depth to a flat script. But hey, take what you can get, right?
The real strong point of this movie, for me, is the set design. This was shot back in the old days, when neat backdrops couldn't just be drawn in with computers over a bluescreen. The Beirut scene at the end of "Navy SEALs" has some of the best *real* urban combat sets I've ever seen, right up there with the Hue scene at the end of "Full Metal Jacket"... though not quite as good.
I don't know if the sets alone make this movie worth watching, but they do for me. It's generally mindless action, but that doesn't mean that it's without substance; just because "Navy SEALs" doesn't meet the standards of a "great" movie, with well-developed characters and all that junk, doesn't mean it's awful. "Navy SEALs" doesn't include much script depth because it really doesn't need to. That isn't the point. Do you think that real Navy SEALs would make well-rounded characters in the Hollywood sense? These soldiers *can't* have strife within the team, *can't* have little internal conflicts that, in most movies, would be considered interesting. That just isn't realistic.
Balto (1995)
A great surprise of a film
"Balto" strikes me as something of a sleeper movie, especially since sequel-happy Universal didn't even make a sequel to it for six years. I barely noticed it when it was first released, and regarded it generally as a cheap Disney knock-off that wouldn't really be worth my time. Recently, though, I had some free time and picked it up at the local video store. I was very pleasantly surprised.
The story, based on actual events, revolves around a half-wolf name Balto, a huskie named Jenna, and a small cluster of supporting characters. It is very tight and flows very naturally and easily through the length of the film. The pacing is good; it's slow enough so that nothing goes over your head, but it's fast enough to not drag at any point.
The animation is top-notch; the backgrounds and character shots often surpass anything Disney was putting out at around the same time, and the character animation is liquid smooth and virtually flawless. The still shots of the movie don't really do it justice; for example, Jenna's upper body seems very exaggerated in stills, but in the movie, she looks natural.
The voice cast, chock-full of big names, does a great job with the characters and greatly helps to immerse the viewer in the film. All of the characters sound exactly like they should, and the voices are matched to the animation seamlessly.
As for the issue of historical accuracy... well, one needs to remember that is isn't a documentary. "Balto" uses the true story as a very firm historical base, but then builds off of it with a new set of personalities and plots to create something entirely unique. It's true that Balto was not the only hero of the famous journey, though he did lead for the last 60-some miles, through 50-mph winds, and even prevented the sled team from falling through thin ice on a river; there were really 20 different sled dog teams involved in the operation.
The point of "Balto", though, is not to provide a history lesson; it's to provide entertainment, and this it does with flying colors.
10/10
Gekijôban Poketto Monsutâ Maboroshi no Pokemon Rugia Bakutan (1999)
Decent, well-structured film.
Pokemon is a fun franchise, no matter how you look at it. The entire thing, all the games, the cards, everything, is essentially about having a good time. Sure, some of it is executives milking little kids, but at least there's a product on the other end.
This movie follows the other Pokemon stuff. There's the feeling of trying to ride the Pokemon name running through it, but it's not strong enough to take away from the experience. The story is actually pretty well thought-out, more so than the first movie (Pokemon: Mewtwo Strikes Back). The introduction of several new Pokemon, as well as the elaboration of some of the original 151, help to keep it interesting. The way it fits with the plot of the animated TV show lifts it up a bit for those who are familiar with the show. The animation, the voice acting, and the soundtrack are all well done, and the fact that they left the god-awful pop music out of the main feature got a sigh of relief from me.
It's not without its weak points. Being familiar with the plot of the TV show *really* helps. The movie assumes at the outset that the viewer knows who the main characters are, how they are related to each other, and some of the events that they've been through in the past. It also leaves out some little bits of information that can be filled in easily if you know the show, but will probably leave you asking questions if you don't. The climax seems to drag a little bit, even though it's full of action. The ending is also a little drawn-out, but these points aren't anything that will ruin the movie.
If you have a young child, or are yourself a young child, or a Pokemon enthusiast, or just curious about the whole thing, it's probably a good idea to see this movie. However, if you don't like Pokemon, this movie won't change your mind. If you like seeing little monsters zapping each other and hearing thinly-veiled, albeit good natured, moral messages, or just want a break from the romantic comedies that endlessly proliferate in the movie rental stores, this movie will be pretty entertaining. If you like romantic comedy, or just don't like the Pokemon, then stay away from it.