Online full-length dvd movies library

11 Comments

1. bguido

   Actually pretty good
   Plot: 7
   Originality: 5
   Visuals: 6
   Acting: 6

   Overall: 6

2. lucky

   Superior to your average teen flicks.

3. greg

   Dissapointed
   Not very good. I liked the script, but the directing was poor. The acting needed some help also. I think this was strictly a teen movie, and not the most interedting at that. Don’t rent it.

4. brodie

   Nothing special

5. kalie

   Decent..
   Lost its focus a bit in the middle, I think. The dad actor wasn’t acting, just reading his lines.

   Sara is pretty rad and so is Derek. Great characters all around.

6. craven

   Very enjoyable!! I liked the characters.

7. haivy

   Surprisingly praiseworthy.
   SAVE THE LAST DANCE * * *

   Director: Thomas Carter
   Writers: Duane Adler, Cheryl Edwards
   Cast: Julia Stiles, Sean Patrick Thomas, Kerry Washington, Fredro Starr
   PG-13, 105 minutes

   There’s very little argument over the quality of current teen-aimed flicks. Most but the target audience would concur their utter mediocrity from countless available examples, too many to start ranting about. “Save the Last Dance”, the first big release of 2001, and a teen-aimed flick, might change a few minds. Instead of just taking a predictable route with the trauma girl meets new, drastically different surroundings with a racial element garbage, it takes that direction and more. It feels obligated to throw in plenty of commentary on current social issues, which it does with a fresh approach and surprising intelligence.

   Sara Johnson (Julia Stiles) used to dance. That was before her mother died in a car crash en route to Sara’s Julliard audition. Now Sara lives with her distant, but loving father in an urban Chicago neighborhood. On her first day of school, she discovers another world previously unknown, as nearly all of her peers are black. Making friends with the boisterous Chenille Reynolds (Kerry Washington) and her clique, Sara becomes more comfortable with her life. She even meets a guy, Chenille’s brother Derek (Sean Patrick Thomas). From the beginning, it’s obvious the two have chemistry. As their love grows, they face a world of endless confrontation.

   Though the script is soapy, it succeeds tremendously in dialogue and atmosphere. Each characters talks in a unique way with their own distinct grammar rules. Frequent slang use ensures the audience will pick up some new words by the time it’s over. Writers Duane Adler and Cheryl Edwards obviously spent some time observing American teenagers. There’s also considerable character background so each action seems to come from somewhere deep within the subconscious.

   Among the issues tackled by the film are interracial dating, death of parent, teen pregnancy, underage drinking and drug use, culture clash, racism, removed family, prison, fathers who don’t support their children, and gang warfare. The social clutter piles up, especially in the third act, and the film could do without so many plot points. The pregnancy and drinking are worthy omissions. While they accurately portray the never-ending battle many youth experience today, the movie loses pace, time, and direction covering these issues. That “Last Dance”, for all its flashy hip-hop dancing, moves ultimately slow is its biggest fault. That it remains interesting is its biggest credit.

   Both Stiles and Thomas have been in bad adolescent pictures before, her’s being “Down to You” and his being “Cruel Intentions”. Each film provided no glimpse into any type of actual reality. They have great chemistry together, and they soar whenever the script doesn’t require them to cry. There’s a great scene on a subway where Sara and Derek put on a show for a woman who clearly disapproves of the two being together.

   To make use of the film’s favorite word, the soundtrack is slammin’. KC & JoJo’s hit single “Crazy” and Pink’s “You Make Me Sick” are just two of the groovy songs on the must-have CD for any teen or hip-hop lover.

   Besides tackling every societal problem it can, “Save the Last Dance’s” bravest feat is something you might not think of. MTV, who produced the film, is heavily promoting "Dance" on its channel. That MTV, the leader in superficiality and pop machine glam, would put so much support into a production that goes against nearly everything they stand for is a beautiful thing. Particularly since the young African-American women here are portrayed as much more than mere sex objects, quite unlike the rap videos constantly airing on the channel. Perhaps this, with their recent move to debunk homophobia, is an indication of a changing MTV. However, it’s probably another instance of hypocrisy, which regularly flows through their airwaves.

   A film review by Frankie Paiva.
   Copyright 2001 Frankie Paiva.

8. janny

   not bad for a chick flick
   the movie was actually entertaining. of course, my girlfriend didnt feel it was a chick flick, but it was…

9. eugene

   A trifle but a fun trifle. It entertains and that’s what matters.

10. radi

    Chick Flick
    I can see how a lot of men would be totally appalled by this movie… dancing, romance, relationship stuff…but seriously it was OK. I have two complaints which are that there are two side stories that really dont’ matter at all to the plot of the main theme and kind of take away from it and that you could really tell that Julia was not doing that dancing. It would pan back and be great, but when you saw her face it wasn’t her! Granted, these are large complaints, but the movie still entertained me and made me happy which is really all that matters these days, right!?!!?

11. bires

    Aside from seeing the boom mic in almost every scene, a really good film
    As my summary states, watching the mic follow the people around in almost every scene took away a little bit of the feel of the movie, which if you could look past that is excelent.

    Really well acted, and believable. ‘Save the Last Dance’ is a great all around movie, and it is not a chick flick either (bonus!), yet somehow it gets you to feel for the characters during the whole film, and keep you interested in what comes next…Funniest part of the movie would be the big fuzzy mics when people are talking outside…again, and again…