e films

Click on the film titles to see full reviews.

"ED TV" -- Clever, funny comedy about a guy who agrees to be on TV all the time. Much more fun and believable than "The Truman Show." Jenna Elfman, Sally Kirkland, Martin Landau and Ellen DeGeneres are great; Matthew McConaughey, Rob Reiner and Woody Harrelson are good.
-- John Orr   DVD DVD (special) VHS

"ELF" -- SNL's Will Ferrell toplines as Buddy, a human raised at the North Pole by an elf (Bob Newhart). Buddy goes to New York to find his biological father (James Caan) and finds a girlfriend (Zooey Deschanel) as well. Laugh-out-loud funny and just plain fun. Ferrell gives a broad performance without going over the top. Director Jon Favreau makes it a quirky, fun film for the whole family.
-- Carlos deVillalvilla

"ELIZABETH" -- Excellent performances by Geoffrey Rush, Joseph Fiennes and Cate Blanchett in a ponderous, pretentious bioflick that manages to make one of history's most fascinating women a colossal bore.
-- Carlos deVillalvilla

"ELIZABETH" -- An interesting bit of speculative biography about Elizabeth the First, one of the greatest and most important leaders in history. Excellent performances by Cate Blanchett, Geoffrey Rush and Joseph Fiennes.
-- John Orr   DVD VHS

''THE EMPEROR'S CLUB'' -- Kevin Kline is wonderful as a passionate professor of history at an exclusive prep school, who not only teaches Greek and Roman civilization, but ethics as well. Conflict with a brash young man (Emile Hirsch) whose credo is "the end justifies the means" forces the audience to take a look in their own mirror of ideals. A movie that is a worthwhile endeavor and a wonderful teaching tool for teens.
-- Carlos deVillalvilla DVD

"END OF DAYS" -- It's the battle of the (last) millennium as Ah-nold takes on Beelzebub. Gabriel Byrne is an urbane Satan, but it is Schwarzenegger who displays surprising acting chops. The devil is looking for a good woman to bring about Armageddon. Great effects, but chuck your logic out the window.
-- Carlos deVillalvilla   DVD VHS

"ERIN BROCKOVICH" -- Julia Roberts plays the real-life title character, a foul-mouthed, provocatively-dressed single mom who talks her way into a job at a law firm and takes on a crusade that defines her and brings her the respect she's never known. A signature performance by Roberts.
-- Carlos deVillalvilla DVD VHS

''EXTREME OPS'' -- Kids behaving badly. Extreme athletes with impulse-control problems cross paths with a mean, nasty terrorist and use their athletic skills to escape. Little to recommend it unless you're a pimply-faced X-games addict with horrible cinematic taste.
-- Carlos deVillalvilla DVD