Tuc Watkins

The Good Shepherd
$6.49
I had not read any critical reviews of the film before I saw it, and had no expectations going in. I actually began watching it in the background, while surfing the web, and after a few minutes had to stop what I was doing and focus on the film, having been utterly drawn in. Even though it was quite late, and against my better judgment, I was unable to stop until I reached the end of this very long, and very engaging meditation on the origins of the American CIA, and the problems inherent in both it's mission, it's domain, and it's architecture.

The problems of mission and architecture are nothing new to the history of intelligence. But intelligence is a game that Americans have really only been playing since WWII, unlike the English and the French. In fact, we learned the game from the British as the O.S.S., and the structure of the CIA was largely influenced through British guidance. The film does a good job of exploring the problematic nature of espionage, when seen from the catbird seat. It is a process of continually sifting through information in an attempt to correctly identify authentic, true information from misinformation and disinformation. In this process, your closest associates may be attempting to mislead and deceive you. Your most powerful adversaries may be attempting to enlighten you. Why would they do that? What are they really up to, one and all? And what is your best option to use misinformation to misdirect them, to pull the wool over their eyes, or to move them to embrace one alternative course of action over another? And this is an ongoing dynamic, continuously changing, requiring constant recalibration. This is an environment that breeds creatures uniquely adapted to survival within it--that they become something much different than the rest of us ordinary slobs, part machine, part monster, part logician, part artist, is beside the point--they end up standing behind the great and the powerful, whispering the words in their ear that set armies marching--or not--as the case may be.

If I were to render any criticism at all of this well conceived and executed film, it would be this: in order to cut the topology of the game wide open and expose it in all of it's truly wicked problematic nature, they had to build their colossus on a foot of clay. A wanton socialite seduces an inscrutable and intellectual young man who doesn't care for her and becomes pregnant. This one seminal event grows into the engine that drives the entire story forward. It isn't far-fetched, it doesn't require a great leap of faith to accept, in many ways it is necessary in order to show the depth of the problem domain--but it is an awful coincidence. In a world of carrots and sticks and people who want to motivate you to cooperate with them, each person requires a different set of carrots and sticks. Is there ANYTHING at all which can be used to force Edward Wilson to compromise himself and his loyalty and trustworthiness? De Niro seems to want us to ask: could I do this? Would I do this? Here is a man who some would argue has been put to the ultimate test, and passed--what kind of a man is he? And what if he were different than that? Would he be a Good Shepherd to us, one and all? And where does that leave the sheep? At the mercy of the Shepherd, for good or for bad. Does that let you rest easy at night?

The Mummy (Full Screen Collector's Edition) - Land of the Lost Movie Cash
$12.98
Deep in the Egyptian desert, a handful of people searching for a long-lost treasure have just unearthed a 3,000 year old legacy of terror. Combining the thrills of a rousing adventure with the suspense of Universal's legendary 1932 horror classic, The Mummy, starring Brendan Fraser, is a true nonstop action epic, filled with dazzling visual effects, top-notch talent and superb storytelling.

The Mummy Collection - The Mummy / The Mummy Returns (Full Screen Edition)
$22.98
I never saw these movies in the theater, nor did I see them on TV first. I heard from friends how good they were so when the boxed set showed up at Costco I purchased it. On my first available weekend I popped both movies and watched non stop for over four hours.
I wasn't a Brendan Fraser until I watched his portrayal of Rick O'Connell the adventurer. His mixture of bravery, bravado and comedy was great . Rachel Weisz plays Evee, the perfect intelligent air head to perfection. John Hannah's self centered character Jonathan, who always bumbles into to doing the right thing is timeless. Jonathan is someone you want to choke and hug at the same time.
I haven't seen any mention of Oded Fehr in the reviews. I throughly enjoyed his character Ardeth Bay as leader of the Magi. His shift in attitude toward Rich, Evee and Jonathan in the first movie is slow and grudgingly given. Ardeth's timely entrance to help the O'Connell's in the second installment, The Mummy Returns is expected and welcome. These are two movies that will remain enjoyable entertainment for years to come.

Richard Draude
Author:
The Adam Eradication

Infested
$9.99
Was it the video quality or something about the way this was filmed....ug ..Trying to watch the beginning...i taught i had my tv on the wrong channel..it really felt like i was watching a soap opera. Movie starts with a funeral...ug...fast foward. Then we get boring people talking...talking... ug. Then we get the flies and effects and horror........even that is not fun anymore due to the impact of the beginning.... Im shutting off the DVD..ahhh pain is ended.
Ill try watching it again..but making sure to bypass the first 30 minutes...
Sorry..i really could'nt finish this movie.