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This fractured documentary, finally available on DVD, is essentially a linear narrative of X’s story, taking innumerable side trips along the way. Morgan drops in a ton of stock footage, interspersed with interviews and home footage, which makes this a rather stream-of-consciousness experience. But there are enough interesting tidbits popping up to keep you wondering what’s coming next (did you know that guitarist Billy Zoon can also play clarinet?). Best of all is the live footage, 15 songs fully justifying the instruction “Play this movie loud.” —Gillian G Gaar |
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SpongeBob SquarePants is a lover, not a fighter. That nearly gets his square ass toasted as he undertakes a dangerous mission to save Bikini Bottom in this feature-length adaptation of the popular animated television series. Jeffrey Tambor and Scarlett Johansson star as the voices of King Neptune and Princess Mindy, and David Hasselhoff makes a hilarious cameo that partially atones for Baywatch Nights! This is a light-hearted film that offers bushels of cheap laughs. The special features are sparse, but it’s enjoyable to hear Scarlett Johansson explain that her character is “not a traditional mermaid” – reason being, because she’s an egg-headed mermaid who actually looks like Al Franken. Actually Johansson explans that Mindy is an “independent” mermaid; maybe that means she voted for Nader. —Chris Mergerson |
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Christopher Lambert plays a video game programmer who creates a sensitive but murderous character (Diego Abatantuono) who gains consciousness, forcing Lambert to somehow delete his difficult creation before his product hits the market. Oh, the irony. Somnambulant acting and a confused narrative weigh down this film, and the promising first five minutes are wasted. Nirvana can't figure out whether it's an existential thriller or a futuristic romantic drama, as both Lambert and Abatantuono search for love and meaning within the confines of their pitiful situations. It’s no secret that science fiction films can go beyond blowing things up and artfully plumb the depths of human emotion and reason; but without a sustained, coherent plot, and in the absence of dynamic characters that grab and retain your attention, the ambitious intentions of director Gabriele Salvatores go unrealized. —CM |
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