Richard-T.-Jones Movie Reviews


GREAT PLOT, LOUSY SCREENPLAY. FREEMAN AND JUDD CARRY IT..
A Fantastic Riveting Thriller!The DVDs picture is very clear and the sound is extremely crisp right down to the breaking twigs. The special features are not so good. All there is a theatrical trailer, I wish there were more. The lack of special features dont take away from the film though.
Kiss the Girls is about Alex Cross who is trying to find the kidnapper and murderer who calls himself Casanova. Cross is drawn into the case when his niece is kidnapped by Casanova. When a woman is killed Cross gets nervous that it might be Naomi. Its not. Kate is a doctor who gets kidnapped by Casanova but fights him and runs through the underground lair. She gets outside, runs to the edge of a stream that is far, far, far below her and Casanova catches up. She jumps.
Does she survive??? Will Cross ever get his niece back???? I wont tell because this film is full of thrills and chills that you wont want to know until you experience them. I love this film and I hope you will too. Thanks
I would give this a 12 on a scale of 1-10

GREAT PLOT, LOUSY SCREENPLAY. FREEMAN AND JUDD CARRY IT..BUT, it's the terrible screenplay that makes the movie's flow rather jerky. So much sudden stuff happened during the course of the detective sleuthing that I couldn't help not caring towards the second half. The finale is mildly predicatable, and the last straw that identifies the killer is so knuckle-headed that it takes away from the overall smart flavor of the film.
On the upside, the shooting of the killer in the denouement is pretty novel (just so you wait until the end.) Morgan Freeman maintains every bit of his general quiet-yet-powerful screen charisma, and Ashley Judd delivers a very convincing performance of a woman with spirit.
The movie has a good deal of suspense too, kept me riveted. But it surely shows what bad story telling can do to an otherwise great theme.
On a scale of Freeman-Judd pairings, this is much better than "Along came a spider" (if you've seen it) but a weaker sibling to "High Crimes".
Nothing you'd want to own but definitely a recommended rental!
A Fantastic Riveting Thriller!The DVDs picture is very clear and the sound is extremely crisp right down to the breaking twigs. The special features are not so good. All there is a theatrical trailer, I wish there were more. The lack of special features dont take away from the film though.
Kiss the Girls is about Alex Cross who is trying to find the kidnapper and murderer who calls himself Casanova. Cross is drawn into the case when his niece is kidnapped by Casanova. When a woman is killed Cross gets nervous that it might be Naomi. Its not. Kate is a doctor who gets kidnapped by Casanova but fights him and runs through the underground lair. She gets outside, runs to the edge of a stream that is far, far, far below her and Casanova catches up. She jumps.
Does she survive??? Will Cross ever get his niece back???? I wont tell because this film is full of thrills and chills that you wont want to know until you experience them. I love this film and I hope you will too. Thanks
I would give this a 12 on a scale of 1-10

A Wonderful Holiday Film
Every bit as good as the original in my opinionRichard Attenborough is amazing as Santa, at least as good as the formidable original. The scene in the original featuring Santa visiting with the Dutch war refugee girl is replaced in this remake with Santa visiting with a little deaf girl. The scene in the original is about as sweet as any scene in any movie ever, and the remake is even sweeter! The deaf girl's face, when Santa talks to her in sign language, is absolutely worth the price of this DVD.
The only real weakness for me was the John DeLancie and Jane Leeves part of the movie, as two "evil" agents for the "enemy" department store (where all the upper management wears all black). They reminded me of Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern from "Home Alone" -- sort of bumbling bad guys in a bad cartoon sort of way.
So all in all, I really think that this version is as good or better than the original, which is simply too dated in a few respects for me to be able to enjoy unconditionally. I think both of them are definitely worth owning.
Full of holiday magic and charm!Set in our time, the film opens with the Cole's Thanksgiving Day Parade, as Dorey Walker (Elizabeth Perkins) comes upon a severely drunken actor who has been employed to play Santa Claus in the parade's send-off. Her problems are solved when she runs across the delightful Kris (Richard Attenborough), who bears a striking resemblance to the real deal. She convinces him to replace the now-inept actor, and the parade goes off with nary a fault.
Kris's authenticity touches many of those who come in contact with him, including Dorey's young daughter, Susan (Mara Wilson), who is a non-believer. Kris, along with family friend Bryan Bedford (Dylan McDermott), sets out to make a believer out of Susan, all the while charming the children who sit in his lap at the department store, and causing a buzz of good publicity for the department store.
All of this is done with a great deal of charm and holiday spirit. The movie is one of the better modern Christmas films I've had the pleasure of seeing. The fact that it is based on a classic is of no importance, because it keeps the spirit and wisdom of that previous film and instills into a setting we can better relate to.
It keeps in touch with the original's many touching moments. One that comes to mind is Kris's conversation with a deaf little girl, a truly touching moment that rides the movie's emotional carriage home. It's scenes like this that give the movie such an uplifting sense of direction and spirit, along with the central message, as Kris so magnificently puts it, that "if you can't accept anything on faith, then you're doomed to a life dominated by doubt."
The real delights come from the cast, a perfect addition to the movie's already wonderful story execution. Richard Attenborough is a marvelous actor, and bleeds of good cheer and high spirits; he is the ideal Santa Claus, and his performance is very touching. Equally touching is the acting of little Mara Wilson, who plays Susan with a wit beyond her years, but also provides her with the same childhood skepticism that captivating young minds are so capable of. McDermott and Perkins can't hold a candle to their two costars, but their acting is nonetheless superb, and very believable.
There's nothing to find fault with in this beautifully crafted holiday film, and however you look at it, "Miracle on 34th Street" measures up to the standards of the original. Destined to become a classic, it develops a warmth and charm found in so little modern movies, and its intentions are nothing less than grand.


A Wonderful Holiday Film
Every bit as good as the original in my opinionRichard Attenborough is amazing as Santa, at least as good as the formidable original. The scene in the original featuring Santa visiting with the Dutch war refugee girl is replaced in this remake with Santa visiting with a little deaf girl. The scene in the original is about as sweet as any scene in any movie ever, and the remake is even sweeter! The deaf girl's face, when Santa talks to her in sign language, is absolutely worth the price of this DVD.
The only real weakness for me was the John DeLancie and Jane Leeves part of the movie, as two "evil" agents for the "enemy" department store (where all the upper management wears all black). They reminded me of Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern from "Home Alone" -- sort of bumbling bad guys in a bad cartoon sort of way.
So all in all, I really think that this version is as good or better than the original, which is simply too dated in a few respects for me to be able to enjoy unconditionally. I think both of them are definitely worth owning.
Full of holiday magic and charm!Set in our time, the film opens with the Cole's Thanksgiving Day Parade, as Dorey Walker (Elizabeth Perkins) comes upon a severely drunken actor who has been employed to play Santa Claus in the parade's send-off. Her problems are solved when she runs across the delightful Kris (Richard Attenborough), who bears a striking resemblance to the real deal. She convinces him to replace the now-inept actor, and the parade goes off with nary a fault.
Kris's authenticity touches many of those who come in contact with him, including Dorey's young daughter, Susan (Mara Wilson), who is a non-believer. Kris, along with family friend Bryan Bedford (Dylan McDermott), sets out to make a believer out of Susan, all the while charming the children who sit in his lap at the department store, and causing a buzz of good publicity for the department store.
All of this is done with a great deal of charm and holiday spirit. The movie is one of the better modern Christmas films I've had the pleasure of seeing. The fact that it is based on a classic is of no importance, because it keeps the spirit and wisdom of that previous film and instills into a setting we can better relate to.
It keeps in touch with the original's many touching moments. One that comes to mind is Kris's conversation with a deaf little girl, a truly touching moment that rides the movie's emotional carriage home. It's scenes like this that give the movie such an uplifting sense of direction and spirit, along with the central message, as Kris so magnificently puts it, that "if you can't accept anything on faith, then you're doomed to a life dominated by doubt."
The real delights come from the cast, a perfect addition to the movie's already wonderful story execution. Richard Attenborough is a marvelous actor, and bleeds of good cheer and high spirits; he is the ideal Santa Claus, and his performance is very touching. Equally touching is the acting of little Mara Wilson, who plays Susan with a wit beyond her years, but also provides her with the same childhood skepticism that captivating young minds are so capable of. McDermott and Perkins can't hold a candle to their two costars, but their acting is nonetheless superb, and very believable.
There's nothing to find fault with in this beautifully crafted holiday film, and however you look at it, "Miracle on 34th Street" measures up to the standards of the original. Destined to become a classic, it develops a warmth and charm found in so little modern movies, and its intentions are nothing less than grand.


A Wonderful Holiday Film
Every bit as good as the original in my opinionRichard Attenborough is amazing as Santa, at least as good as the formidable original. The scene in the original featuring Santa visiting with the Dutch war refugee girl is replaced in this remake with Santa visiting with a little deaf girl. The scene in the original is about as sweet as any scene in any movie ever, and the remake is even sweeter! The deaf girl's face, when Santa talks to her in sign language, is absolutely worth the price of this DVD.
The only real weakness for me was the John DeLancie and Jane Leeves part of the movie, as two "evil" agents for the "enemy" department store (where all the upper management wears all black). They reminded me of Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern from "Home Alone" -- sort of bumbling bad guys in a bad cartoon sort of way.
So all in all, I really think that this version is as good or better than the original, which is simply too dated in a few respects for me to be able to enjoy unconditionally. I think both of them are definitely worth owning.
Full of holiday magic and charm!Set in our time, the film opens with the Cole's Thanksgiving Day Parade, as Dorey Walker (Elizabeth Perkins) comes upon a severely drunken actor who has been employed to play Santa Claus in the parade's send-off. Her problems are solved when she runs across the delightful Kris (Richard Attenborough), who bears a striking resemblance to the real deal. She convinces him to replace the now-inept actor, and the parade goes off with nary a fault.
Kris's authenticity touches many of those who come in contact with him, including Dorey's young daughter, Susan (Mara Wilson), who is a non-believer. Kris, along with family friend Bryan Bedford (Dylan McDermott), sets out to make a believer out of Susan, all the while charming the children who sit in his lap at the department store, and causing a buzz of good publicity for the department store.
All of this is done with a great deal of charm and holiday spirit. The movie is one of the better modern Christmas films I've had the pleasure of seeing. The fact that it is based on a classic is of no importance, because it keeps the spirit and wisdom of that previous film and instills into a setting we can better relate to.
It keeps in touch with the original's many touching moments. One that comes to mind is Kris's conversation with a deaf little girl, a truly touching moment that rides the movie's emotional carriage home. It's scenes like this that give the movie such an uplifting sense of direction and spirit, along with the central message, as Kris so magnificently puts it, that "if you can't accept anything on faith, then you're doomed to a life dominated by doubt."
The real delights come from the cast, a perfect addition to the movie's already wonderful story execution. Richard Attenborough is a marvelous actor, and bleeds of good cheer and high spirits; he is the ideal Santa Claus, and his performance is very touching. Equally touching is the acting of little Mara Wilson, who plays Susan with a wit beyond her years, but also provides her with the same childhood skepticism that captivating young minds are so capable of. McDermott and Perkins can't hold a candle to their two costars, but their acting is nonetheless superb, and very believable.
There's nothing to find fault with in this beautifully crafted holiday film, and however you look at it, "Miracle on 34th Street" measures up to the standards of the original. Destined to become a classic, it develops a warmth and charm found in so little modern movies, and its intentions are nothing less than grand.


Endlessly, relentlessly downbeat
Where the day takes youIt's Christmas Eve, and John (David Arquette) -- a young but experienced Los Angeles street hustler -- is trying to teach the ropes to innocent Donner (Lukas Haas).
John has recently stolen money from a drug dealer, and Donner's naive attempts to help him out result in tragedy. The first part of this film is convincingly gritty and wry; Silver effectively captures the relentlessly ugly, smog-bound atmosphere that envelopes Los Angeles. But as John's problems mount up, the story takes a wrong turn into TV movie of the week-dom.
Silver compounds the problem with heavy-handed music -- a capella religious choruses, Silent Night at a crucial juncture --and his use of a wordless, homeless black man (Keith David), who appears intermittently like an angel of mercy.
Arquette is effective in a young Dennis Hopper sort of way -- appealing one minute, repulsively mannered the next -- but Haas' shy fawn in the urban jungle characterization doesn't wear well.
Several familiar faces crop up in small roles, including Nina Siemaszko, John C. McGinley and Elliott Gould, who's alarmingly effective as a particularly needy client. The fact that multiple characters are named "John" is a joke that wears thin well before the movie comes to an end.
Bittersweet Drama

Wish I Could Rate It A Zero!Pauley Shore has made some good movies but sadly Jury Duty isn't one of them, I would pass on this one and watch Biodome instead or In The Army Now they are far superior!
Sorry, just my personal opinion!
Thank god that this is gonna be released on DVD!I've had this movie since 2001 when i first saw it in late 2000 when i loved it! It's got fine acting, a witty script and a decent plot. This is one of the greatest movies i've ever seen in my life, i CAN'T WAIT FOR THE DVD!!!!
Long live Jury Duty!!!!
this is a "Laugh so hard that you can't breathe" movie

This one takes the cake
The WORST movie I've ever seen!!!I'm done now. Just don't see this movie. I almost blinded myself after watching this.
Are these people joking?Anyways, the movie is funny. That dude from American Pie is in it, and he gets into trouble. The cow, the plane, and even the entire movie had me laughing hysterically.
The movie is great. It's good comedy, I don't know why others say differnetly.


This one takes the cake
The WORST movie I've ever seen!!!I'm done now. Just don't see this movie. I almost blinded myself after watching this.
Are these people joking?Anyways, the movie is funny. That dude from American Pie is in it, and he gets into trouble. The cow, the plane, and even the entire movie had me laughing hysterically.
The movie is great. It's good comedy, I don't know why others say differnetly.


This one takes the cake
The WORST movie I've ever seen!!!I'm done now. Just don't see this movie. I almost blinded myself after watching this.
Are these people joking?Anyways, the movie is funny. That dude from American Pie is in it, and he gets into trouble. The cow, the plane, and even the entire movie had me laughing hysterically.
The movie is great. It's good comedy, I don't know why others say differnetly.
BUT, it's the terrible screenplay that makes the movie's flow rather jerky. So much sudden stuff happened during the course of the detective sleuthing that I couldn't help not caring towards the second half. The finale is mildly predicatable, and the last straw that identifies the killer is so knuckle-headed that it takes away from the overall smart flavor of the film.
On the upside, the shooting of the killer in the denouement is pretty novel (just so you wait until the end.) Morgan Freeman maintains every bit of his general quiet-yet-powerful screen charisma, and Ashley Judd delivers a very convincing performance of a woman with spirit.
The movie has a good deal of suspense too, kept me riveted. But it surely shows what bad story telling can do to an otherwise great theme.
On a scale of Freeman-Judd pairings, this is much better than "Along came a spider" (if you've seen it) but a weaker sibling to "High Crimes".
Nothing you'd want to own but definitely a recommended rental!