Roger Ebert gives thumbs up to AP2 and Osmosis Jones, but thumbs down to The Others!

[Mike]

I was shocked when I saw that Roger Ebert gave thumbs down to The Others, I thought he'd like it for sure. Most of the other critics are. Oh Well!!!

He gave thumbs up to American Pie 2, which I figured he would because he liked the first one. And he gave thumbs up to Osmosis Jones, which I didn't expect...

What are your thoughts on this?

[bskutle]

Well, I can't speak about AP2 or Osmosis Jones, but I thought Ebert was spot-on with his review of "The Others." It has great atmosphere, interesting music, and some interesting ideas, but Kidman's role was too monotonous, and not nearly as sympathetic as Osment or Willis in "The Sixth Sense." Plus, I felt "Sense" achieve a greater poignancy and emotional depth in the dynamic between Toni Collette and Haley Joel Osment that "The Others" did between Kidman and her children; none of the characters were easy to sympathize with IMHO. Fog machines, dim lighting, and scary music do not make a great horror film or ghost story; there has to be something there in terms of substance, and this didn't have it. As for the ending, it's like a combo of "The Sixth Sense" or "eXistenZ," only minus the sucker-punch quality of either. I was disappointed by "The Others."

Grade- C+ or 4.5/10

[ClarkGriswald]

I saw AP2 out of the three and Ebert definitely has a point in his review. If they do a third (and at this point I'm willing to guarantee it), they need better ideas. More original ones.

SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER! Okay, the CB radio sequence (VERY funny, I loved it!) was directly akin to the Internet scene from AP, but this had A LOT MORE twists and turns. I didn't expect Jim, Stifler, and Finch to actually DO that stuff! And the love story, this time with Jim and the band geek, I liked it. Great chemistry. I really loved the ending with the drop in visist by Stifler's mom. JB Rogers finally has a great movie - Say It Isn't So isn't his fault. It's the writers fault. The Farelly Brothers didn't even write it, yeesh. Anyway, I really liked it. Oh, and Stifler's party in the beginning - DEFINITELY funnier than the party from AP. I love the wine, bubbles and all, MWA HA HA! END SPOILERS IF YOU CONSIDER IT THAT!

All in all if they do a third concentrate on like after they graduate from college (those kids' ages are about 26, 27, so please MAKE THEM adults eh?) and what they do from there. I'd see it. I give AP2 8/10 ... definitely fun for all. /ubb/smile.gif

[inglourious basterd]

I cant comment on Osmosis Jones (perhaps he liked it because of its mixture of cartoon and video...he seems to like originality), but this week (I felt) he was right on with the AP2 and The Others.

American Pie 2 was hilarious...its as funny as its predecessor. By simply updating the characters that were already developed in the first, the movie simply focuses on delivering an unstoppable number of laughs.
If you liked AP1 (youd have to see that one first), AP2 is a must see.

The Others was a well filmed movie, but I did not think that it was a great movie. Without the use of CGI, it was able to produce semi-thrills by using sound and camera manipulation.. However, the film's weakness has to do with the plot...the characters' strangeness (IMO) detracts from the connection with the them.

Because of the pace of the film and the way that information is developed, the Sixth Sense and The Others have a lot in common. The thing is that (IMO) the Sixth Sense was a much better movie because of the amount of development, the way we felt for the characters, and the replay value.

"The Others" relies on a connection with the characters; but for me, it wasnt there.

The Others: 6/10
American Pie 2: 8/10

(Where psu is coming from /ubb/wink.gif )
The Haunting 2/10
The Sixth Sense 8/10
American Pie: 8/10
Scary Movie: 3/10

[This message has been edited by psudoazn (edited 08-11-2001).]

[Horror whore]

I'm sorry but I don't agree with Roger Ebert that much...ever..

[someguy]

I'm sorry but I really liked The Others a lot.

*SPOILERS* *SPOILERS* *SPOILERS*
The ending was a copy of The Sixth Sense, but it's a brilliant ending changing the whole concept of the movie.(The dead are scared by the living,as we are scared of the dead)The whole idea of putting the movie in oil lamps and candles is brilliant,making it more scary,but became wasted because not a lot of scary scenes happened. What I DO like about this film is the fact that it has the elements of a real haunted house. Instead of faces in the walls,etc. we get doors closing by themselves,noises,moved items,etc. This is a great movie,so I'm giving it a 9.

[max]

I haven't seen AP2 or OSMOSIS JONES but I've seen THE OTHERS. I have to agree with Ebert's so-so-rating. I didn't mind the slow burn, but I predicted the ending halfway through the film. It wasn't scary. The rare jolts were of the boo variety. And I thought Nicole Kidman overacted. There were some bright spots. The cinematography and the kids were quite creepy. It definitely wasn't the THE SIXTH SENSE. More like THE SIXTH NONSENSE.

[Pinchadiscos]

I didn't find AMerican Pie 2 to be funny at all /ubb/frown.gif On the other hand, The Others is a really well-crafted movie; i even think it's better than The Sixth Sense, because it's so much more than just having a surprise ending... the surprise ending is even more intelligent and complex than the one in Sixth Sense /ubb/smile.gif

American Pie 2 - 3/10
The Others - 8/10

[Mike]

I went to see American Pie 2 tonight and I LOVED IT... I will see it again. It's not every day you see a sequel that's just as good if not better than the original... I thought it was a little better than the first one, but I loved them both...

American Pie: 8/10
American Pie 2: 8/10

[Fergus]

Almost everytime I read a review by Ebert after I see the movie, he has either overrated the movie or underrated it. Like with Legally Blond, that was not a good movie. I didn't like AP2, but I liked The Others; what I think is usually the opposite of what he thinks. Geez, I wish Gene Siskel hadn't passed away, because I agreed with his reviews more than Ebert.

[momentomanic]

I just saw The Others with two friends. They were on to the eventual ending much sooner than I and that seemed to diminish their enjoyment considerably. For my part I rather liked the film and would rate it a 5 or 6. We all agreed that our involvement with the characters wasn't as much as, say, The Sixth Sense. I felt that was because Kidman's character wasn't intended to be as overtly sympathetic. But I like her performance and the character and felt that it was all of one piece. Her character was interesting to me in a different way, especially in its grieving and highly controlling aspects. I ended up more sympathetic after I left the theatre.

[Skyblade]

Well, they also gave thumbs up to the Klumps, and thumbs down to X-Men

[Horror whore]

The Others is much better than American Pie 2...

[Lindsey]

Way better!

[Pinchadiscos]

Way much better!

[Mike]

No way, I bet American Pie 2 is more fun than THE OTHERS... I saw American Pie 2 and I loved it, I doubt I'd enjoy THE OTHERS as much...

[Sphinx]

I also enjoyed "Others" but, like some of you mention, it dawned on me about halfway through the film what was probably happening. I spent the remainder of the film HOPING I was wrong, and that I'd see the great surprise ending everyone was raving about. I was so disappointed to find it only confirmed my initial instinct. Ah, well.

This is a good film, nonetheless, with the beautiful cinematography, the near suffocating stillness of the house/mood--which only heightens the tension, and some good old fashioned jolts. The acting is good. The creepy servants and the two children were excellent. Had my reservations about Kidman's character--a little too one-dimensional, but she still kept a dignity and grace throughout.

I recommend this, definitely. But I'll probably have to see it again because the blasted movie theatre kept the volume so low I missed a lot of the dialogue. It felt like the whole movie was done in whispers, and I want to know if that was the film, or the theatre. lollol

[max]

Pinchadiscos - I disagree with you regarding THE SIXTH SENSE. It was more than just a surprise ending. The performances, especially by Osment and Collette, were extremely moving. And Shyamalan's direction was exquisite.

Back to THE OTHERS (POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD). Why did the servants keep "it" a secret from Nicole and kids? Couldn't they have told them sooner and spared them the anguish? Perhaps Nicole's character deserved to suffer. But why the kids? Of course if they revealed the secret sooner, there wouldn't be a feature-length movie, would there? I felt the whole thing was just a gimmicky attempt to duplicate THE SIXTH SENSE's twisty success.

[max]

Pinchadiscos - THE SIXTH SENSE was more than just the surprise ending. The performances were moving, especially by Osment and Colette. And Shyamalan's direction was exquisitely creepy.

As for THE OTHERS, I have a question: SPOILERS!!!...Why did the servants keep "it" a secret from Nicole and her kids for so long? Why didn't they tell them sooner so they didn't have to suffer so much? Perhaps Nicole's character deserved to, but why punish the kids?

[NDS]

Well I hope American Pie 2 is better then the first one because I hardly laughed at all at the first one. I thought the band camp jokes were boring and wasn't surprised when she started talking about stuffing flutes in her privates. All I thought was a sarcastic wow what a surprise. Hope 2 is a little funnier but from the trailer it's looking like it is going to be a lot of the same type of jokes.

[janlea]

I seem to recall that Ebert likes the
poo-poo stuff. Either that, or he wants to make sure he doesn't alienate the poor morons that do. I for one, am sick and tired of flatulence and paying seven dollars to hear it in too many movies. It's been done.
It started with Student Bodies and should have ended there.

[Horror whore]

Just don't grade The Others against American Shit 2....They are totally different movies and just because they came out on the same day doesn't mean that you compare them...

::coughamericanpie2suckstheothersrulescough::

[janlea]

I have to agree with horror whore.
The Others is a movie that sent more chills up my spine than any movie I have ever seen in my life. American Pie 2 had no story,
but has a very touching moment when the dad,
Eugene Levy, is in the car and is told by his son that he is cool, after the dad has
spent a lifetime trying to get that validation. The look on Levy's face, the dad,
is heartbreaking and worth the price of admission alone.

[CriticalBill6966]

I feel in his old age, it all depends on his mood.

[totemrepublic]

I didn't know Roger Ebert's birthname was Reinhold Timme http://www.joblo.com/ubb/biggrin.gif Anywayz the guy is like 60 years old, but I'm pretty sure he'll stick around for another 10 years or so if he tries to control his diet.

The biggest complain I have about him is that he is completely obsessed with Angelina Jolie... http://www.joblo.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

Antony (previously Pincha)

[urbanlegend23]

There is a word that reminds me of Roger Ebert.

Arrogant

http://www.joblo.com/ubb/rolleyes.gif