Daniels will always be the definitive Adams even if he didn't look anything like him. Grizzard was fine in "Adams Chronicles" and even the actor (I can't remember who) who performed him for dramatic readings in the PBS documentary "Liberty" (I remember Victor Garber as Dickinson and Donna Murphy as Abigail) was better than Giamatti.

Honestly, when I first heard him mumbling I thought it was just because the character had been seen making his way through the snow of a bitter New England winter, but then I realized no, this is how he's always going to sound and it was downhill from there.

Honestly, when I first heard him mumbling I thought it was just because the character had been seen making his way through the snow of a bitter New England winter, but then I realized no, this is how he's always going to sound and it was downhill from there.

My mom, who was a high school history teacher for many years, absolutely disliked Giamatti so much she couldn't finish watching it.

When I see him it's almost like watching Rain Man playing John Adams. His delivery is off-base, he projects none of the qualities one would have anticipated from a leader, statesman and speaker like Adams. And he seems positively ill-matched with Linney.

I may have to go back to rewrite my review now!! lol.

Sleepy Hollow (1999): 9/10

"Perhaps there is a bit of witch in you, Katrina."

"Why do you say that...?"

"Because you have bewtiched me."



This movie desperately needs a new SE with all of those deleted scenes.

Great movie! I'll be pairing it up with WOLFMAN this Halloween for an HD double-bill.

Also, and I've mentioned this before, on SLEEPY HOLLOW the US Blu-Ray is absolutely deficient of that film. The transfer has this odd "wavey" noise and it's godawful -- one of the worst HD transfers I've seen.

I ended up forking over $50 for the Japanese Blu-Ray, which has a gorgeous transfer (in 1080i, but so what) and "lossless" audio.

The film could stand a re-issue in this country plus all the deleted scenes, at least in a supplement, which I assume would include most of Casper Van Dien's performance -- which was apparently cut because he was so terrible in it.

Fourteen Hours (1951) (8.5 of 10). I caught this in mid-stream years ago on TV, got engrossed in the story and it took me this long to finally see it again on DVD. A great, tense thriller.

It sure says something about actors then as opposed to actors now that Richard Basehart, in his upper 30s at the time could convincingly play someone the script describes as 23.

UPDATE-I had to ruin my enjoyment of the film by listening to the commentary track by a film noir buff. BAD mistake as it was the kind of film commentary I detest, which is long on psycho-analysis and symbolism and when he then got to insisting that this ultimately has to be all about Basehart's character being gay and not wanting to confront it, that was when I shut the damned thing off. Only the execrable commentary track for Criterion's version of "Spellbound" was worse than this.

Yeah, Fourteen Hours was pretty good, and Grace Kelly's first film role, at that.

AndyDursin wrote: The film could stand a re-issue in this country plus all the deleted scenes, at least in a supplement, which I assume would include most of Casper Van Dien's performance -- which was apparently cut because he was so terrible in it.

As much as I love the film for its atmosphere and great/quirky performances and Elfman's magnificent score...the plot is kind of a jumble, with characters magically knowing where other ones are with no justification (why does Depp drive the stagecoach to the windmill? How does he know Ricci is there? ) and other characters barely developed at all (Van Dien obviously had more to do in a longer cut...his jealousy of Depp's relationship with Ricci is barely even hinted at). Plus, I remember seeing a promotional still with Depp outside the witch's cave at one point, and it's on fire(?). And there's a terrible continuity glitch where we see Jonathan Masbath up in a tower waiting for the Horseman to arrive...and suddenly he's being chased through the woods?! And then the tower is burned down? A large chunk of footage must have been taken out here.

Monterey Jack wrote:

AndyDursin wrote: The film could stand a re-issue in this country plus all the deleted scenes, at least in a supplement, which I assume would include most of Casper Van Dien's performance -- which was apparently cut because he was so terrible in it.

As much as I love the film for its atmosphere and great/quirky performances and Elfman's magnificent score...the plot is kind of a jumble, with characters magically knowing where other ones are with no justification (why does Depp drive the stagecoach to the windmill? How does he know Ricci is there? ) and other characters barely developed at all (Van Dien obviously had more to do in a longer cut...his jealousy of Depp's relationship with Ricci is barely even hinted at). Plus, I remember seeing a promotional still with Depp outside the witch's cave at one point, and it's on fire(?). And there's a terrible continuity glitch where we see Jonathan Masbath up in a tower waiting for the Horseman to arrive...and suddenly he's being chased through the woods?! And then the tower is burned down? A large chunk of footage must have been taken out here.

Yeah agree completely. Do you have the ART OF SLEEPY HOLLOW book? Great photos and storyboards, plus the script...one of these days I ought to read the script and see how much was taken out.

Another great Burton movie...SLEEPY HOLLOW is my second favorite. I remember just being blown away when I saw it in the theater. My friend said that the Headless Horseman was on the screen too often and thus took away some of the suspense, which I can see. Another great performance from Depp....gorgeous visuals.

In an age when more and more starlets are coming to resemble mannequins, Christina Ricci is a true original -- edgy, offbeat (and completely dishy too).

I was saying to Andy a couple of weeks ago that I'd love to see her cast as a wenchy pirate woman opposite Johnny Depp in the next Pirates of the Caribbean sequel...but I doubt that is going to happen.

Paul MacLean wrote:In an age when more and more starlets are coming to resemble mannequins, Christina Ricci is a true original -- edgy, offbeat (and completely dishy too).

Too bad she followed in the anorexic footsteps of Jennifer Connelly and had a breast reduction.

BTW, ever notice Burton's fetish for bosomy, saucer-eyed blonde chicks in his movies? Ricci, Winona Ryder in Edward Scissorhands, the actress who played Johnny Depp's daughter in Sweeney Todd, and now the girl playing the title role in Alice In Wonderland. Not that I'm complaining, of course.

Looks like she had a nose job as well

Planet Of The Apes (2001): 6.5/10

Are me and Andy the only two people on Earth who'll admit to liking this movie? Yes, Wahlberg is horribly miscast, and the screenplay needed several more polishes, but the movie is entertaining enough, albiet the least "Burtonesque" movie Tim Burton has ever made.

And Helena Bonham Carter is one Grade-A MILF (Monkey I'd Like to... ).

Don't forget Estella Warren, who looked really good in that movie. Her window of opportunity opened and closed pretty fast!

Always liked Elfman's main title too...

I thoroughly enjoyed rewatching CLASH OF THE TITANS and NEVERENDING STORY this week on Blu-Ray. Plus the insanity of THE WRAITH (ooo, Sherilyn Fenn!) on DVD.

Reviews are up on the front page...

http://www.andyfilm.com/3-2-10.html