Reviews: Film

The Fountain

Directed by Darren Aronofsky, starring Hugh Jackman, Rachel Weisz

It is fashionable to weave multiple stories into one movie, but this one is more likely to disappoint than intrigue. Aronofsky splits the tale into three time periods: In the 16th century, a conquistador strives to find the Tree of Life; a Buddha-like character zips through outer space and dreams of a woman; in present day a doctor searches for a cure for his wife's brain tumor while she writes a book entitled The Fountain, but has left the final chapter for him to finish.

It's about love that transcends time and space, about mortality and self, about deep thoughts and brooding in sepia hues. Narration is obviously not Aronofsky's forte, but his previous outings were gripping and beguiling. This time, it is unfocused and confusing. And the seemingly philosophical symbolisms are a little too clich-laden.

Raymond Zhou

A Cinderella Story

Directed by Mark Rosman, starring Hilary Duff

This retelling of the classic tale is set in an American high school where else? where the prince enthralls as a football quarterback and Cinderella mops floors in a diner. They bump into each other in an online chat room, and she drops her cellphone instead of a glass slipper while leaving the ball I mean party.

This update hews too closely to the original, complete with the evil stepmother and a pair of wickedly stupid half-sisters. Nothing innovative here, but some of the gags are funny. The surprise is in the portrayal of the male lead, whose status as a sex object is so out of touch with our feminism-accentuated values that one wonders why no one protested.

This confection is not in the league of Clueless (from Jane Austin's Emma) or 10 Things I Hate About You (from Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew), but it may well enchant teenage girls.

RZ

Night at the Museum

Directed by Shawn Levy, starring Ben Stiller

Like most Ben Stiller comedies, this is a one-trick pony.

A good-for-nothing has to prove that he is a competent single father by getting a job. Working as a night guard at the Museum of Natural History seems like an easy gig, but the catch is, the exhibits will come alive at night.

In more capable hands, this could have been turned into a hilarious situation. But here, it's basically a five-minute skit stretched to feature length. The computer special effects are okay, but far from the awe-inspiring level of, say, Jurassic Park. The story is not one tenth as good as Toy Story, and overall it's a pale imitation of Jumanji.

But strangely, Ben Stiller comedies sell in America. Well, when the cat is away I mean, when Jim Carrey is taking a hiatus, we'd have to make do with derivative stuff. And they say Jim Carrey is juvenile.

RZ

(China Daily 04/03/2007 page20)