Rating: 
Summary: Sam Jackson never fails...
Review: I really hope more people get to see this movie, it humanizes homeless people as having a history and reason for there situation. In Sam Jacksons charachter he takes it upon himself to solve a murder outside his cave in Central Park which at the same time serves as a key to free himself of his own demons. The directors style and persepective visualizes what some of the "eccentric" elements of Sam's homeless lifestyle. I saw it in a theater and for its somber premise (murder investigation) it has a lot of laughs, compliments of sam Jacksons great delivery. The mystery of the murder as well kept me guessing till the end. This is why Sam Jackson never fails to entertain.
Rating: 
Summary: Like The Watcher
Review: In terms of visual style, this film is like "The Watcher" which also used creative visual shots. I also enjoyed seeing the juxtaposition of the dark well-toned angels with the white vulnerable angels portrayed by the sinister photographer.The plot. The one character I didn't quite have a handle on was Anthony Michael Hall's lawyer character. Was he mocking the eccentric homeless man he encounters on the street or did he truly have an admiration for him? The photographer's sister- would she really get intimately involved with a homeless man she had only met hours before? The acting- At first, I didn't think the acting of Romulus' daughter was that strong until her scene when her father asked her for a ride. Then, it seemed as if the emotions of a daughter sadly disappointed that the beloved father was lost not to death or to abandonment but to mental illness truly came out. The ex-wife in the form of Romulus' vision was as stunning on screen as he was. Even though in real time she had given up on him, she portrayed a protectiveness in his visions. ... The composer has worked on at least one of Spike Lee's film. The prime example is in the scene where Romulus gets a chance to showcase his skill. The music perfectly keeps us guessing whether his performance was real- or all just in his head. Neither a perfect human drama or mystery, it does, however, more accurately portray schizophrenia than any other movie I've seen before this. Only people who are not familiar with the mentally ill would say that Romulus' portrayal are unrealistic.
Rating: 
Summary: Lifeless
Review: Like most everyone who saw EVE'S BAYOU, I eagerly anticipated the arrival of Kasi Lemmon's follow-up film. Unfortunately, very little of what made EB such a critical and commercial success is evident in CAVEMAN'S VALENTINE. Not even another winning performance by Samuel L Jackson could save this pretentious clunker of a film. The book on which this screenplay was based is ludicrious enough, yet it seems like Lemmons to go out of her way to make the unbelievable premise even more ridiculous. There was simply no motivation for schizophrenic Romulus to become a crime fighter and there is simply no dramatic pull to keep the audience interested. Nothing in this film is firmly grounded, giving the one dimesional characters no where to go. What a waste of time.
Rating:
Summary: I'm Coming For You Stiverson!
Review: Movie Summary: Romulus Ledbetter is a genius and a master pianist. He went to school at Juliard, has a wife and daughter and lives in a cave in Central Park. Romulus you see suffers from paranoid schizophrenia. He has demons in his head that drive him into fits of rage. On Valentines day upon emerging from his cave, Romulus finds a frozen body in a tree. He considers this his valentine and takes it upon himself to find out who killed the young man. Romulus fights his demons and once again enters the normal word to find the person who left him such a valentine.
My Opinion: It's no mystery that Samuel L. Jackson gives a great performance in this film. If you are a fan of his, then it's worth seeing just for that. Aside from that, this movie is basically a "made for TV" type drama. That's not necessarily bad, many of those can be very gripping and entertaining and TCV is both of those. It does require a lot of suspension of belief though. The story takes place in the "real world" and thus must follow those rules. The way Romulus reenters society after living in a cave for so long is a stretch. He finds a guy on the street who happens to invite him to his home and presto he's got a suit of clothes and looks normal again. This doesn't really ruin the movie, but it's there. What does bring the movie to a screeching halt though is one of the last scene cuts. This one snaps your head so badly that you will have whiplash well after the credits are over. Out of nowhere Romulus follows another character onto a train and the movie comes to its climax. There is no set up or explanation and you are left wondering what the heck happened. Not even the deleted scenes shed any light on this one. For me this cut one star off my rating and made me feel like the movie cut short. It deserved a better ending than it got. DVD Quality: Video: Widescreen Anamorphic 1.85:1 with good video quality. Sound: DD 5.1 sounded fine. Extras: Deleted Scenes that help a little with the plot, production notes, trailer, commentary. Menus: Nothing all that special. This is an average DVD release. What You Should Do: Rent it if you are a Samuel L. Jackson fan. It is an interesting mystery/character study that takes a little bit of work to get into. It's not your standard Saturday night entertainment fare. Mostly it is a showcase for Samuel L. Jackson's acting talent. Related Movies To Check Out: Jacob's Ladder, Rain Man, Memento
Rating: 
Summary: Kasi Lemmons does it again!!!
Review: Ms. Lemmons who also gifted us with the fabulous "Eve's Bayou" works her magic once more with "The Caveman's Valentine," a film about a cave-dwelling paranoid schizophrenic and his attempts to solve a murder mystery. First, I have to say that I just love Samuel L. Jackson for his convincing portrayals. Though he is good at whatever role he takes on, I especially like to see him breathe life into odd characters like this one and the psychotic villain he portrayed in "Unbreakable." This is a very dark and somber looking film that really gives you the feel of what it must be like to be on the streets of New York City. Jackson, outfitted with flowing grey locks and layers of rags definitely looks the part of a homeless person and through cut-aways we are given a view into what happens inside his brain -- his nagging ex wife and his conversations with his nemesis Stuyvesant. Though our protanganist Romulus Ledbetter is a brilliant, classically-trained pianist, he suffers from mental illness. He does have periods of lucidity and it is during these times that he is able to convince people to help him as he tries to get to the bottom of a crime. Sure there are some unrealisitic developments in the film, but they do serve to move the plot along. After all, this is a dramatization, so the director should be allowed some creative license. A smarmy wealthy man befriends Ledbetter and provides him with a place to bathe and a set of decent clothes, allowing him some semblance of normalcy. This sets the climax of the film in motion as Ledbetter charms his way into the home of the person he suspects is responsible for the death of the young man left outside his cave on Valentine's Day. There is great scene at the suspect's house where we see Ledbetter at the piano playing like his he is communing with the instrument, however, I have not quite figured out if he really delievered a virtuoso performance or whether he just imagines that he does. There is an interesting family dynamic in this movie as we see Ledbetter's long-suffering daughter trying to deal with her father. On the one hand, she does know that he is mentally-ill and prone to delusions, on the other hand, she wants to believe his fantastic theory about the unsolved mystery. Samuel L. Jackson delivered a great performance here, and it's a shame that this film didn't receive more recognition.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best mysteries since Hitchcock
Review: Much has been said about Jaackson's bravura performance. The tight writing and surprising plot twists which frequently caught me flat-footed also delighted me. What I wish to comment on here, though is possibly the best cinematography I have ever seen. Highly surreal and often beautiful still photos and video intertwine gracefully in as high an expression of the film makers visual art as you will ever see. Sometime it is footage that seems to be from the Harlem Renassaince, other times it is a simple black and white still photo or a close in shot of a part of the human anatomy. The effect is stunning. Not for all tastes with its truley evil crimes, but for the film buff this is absolutely essential. A hint: See Lemons other film Eve's Bayou too, if you haven't done so.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best mysteries since Hitchcock
Review: Much has been said about Jackson's bravura performance. The tight writing and surprising plot twists which frequently caught me flat-footed also delighted me. What I wish to comment on here, though is possibly the best cinematography I have ever seen. Highly surreal and often beautiful still photos and video intertwine gracefully in as high an expression of the film makers visual art as you will ever see. Sometime it is footage that seems to be from the Harlem Renassaince, other times it is a simple black and white still photo or a close in shot of a part of the human anatomy. The effect is stunning. Not for all tastes with its truley evil crimes, but for the film buff this is absolutely essential. ....
Rating:
Summary: Respectable Sophomore Effort from "Eve's Bayou" Director
Review: Rather than simply make a continuation of her debut feature, EVE'S BAYOU, Kasi Lemmons wisely chose to "stretch her creative muscles" with her next effort. While not entirely successful, THE CAVEMAN'S VALENTINE is nevertheless an intelligent and provocative film. Based on the novel by George Dawes Green (who also wrote the screenplay), THE CAVEMAN'S VALENTINE tells the story of Romulus Ledbetter (played effectively by Samuel L. Jackson), a mentally ill cave-dwelling man. One day, he discovers a dead body just outside his living space, causing him to immediately embark on a search to find the killer. It doesn't take long before you realize that you are not watching a run-of-the-mill murder mystery. Instead of bombarding you with pointless car chases and noisy special effects, THE CAVEMAN'S VALENTINE focuses on the demons inside Ledbetter's mind. This is represented through a series of highly stylized hallucinations and flashbacks. The film also explores the strained relationship between Ledbetter and his daughter, Lulu (Aunjanue Ellis of MEN OF HONOR). Their situation is further exacerbated by the fact that Lulu is a cop involved in the murder investigation. Simply put, there is no shortage of character conflict nor eye candy here. The dialog also crackles in the film. The best line is spoken by Tamara Tunie (the narrator on EVE'S BAYOU), who plays the role of Sheila, Lulu's mother. Written by an (uncredited) Lemmons, the line is sure to elicit a response from fans of Terry McMillan and similar novelists. Overall, THE CAVEMAN'S VALENTINE is an intriguing character study which includes a touching father-daughter relationship. This comes at the expense of gripping "edge of your seat" suspense, but don't let this keep you from experiencing this rich and complex film. Amelia Vincent's cinematography and Terilyn A. Shropshire's editing are first-rate. Terence Blanchard's score is seamless. (These three also collaborated with Lemmons on EVE'S BAYOU.) If you're a fan of typical summer movies that seem to care more about style over substance, you'll probably be better off to look elsewhere. On the other hand, if you've grown weary of loud thrillers with formulaic plots, you'll really appreciate this film. Check it out.
Rating:
Summary: Respectable Sophomore Effort from "Eve's Bayou" Director
Review: Rather than simply make a continuation of her debut feature, EVE'S BAYOU, Kasi Lemmons wisely chose to "stretch her creative muscles" with her next effort. While not entirely successful, THE CAVEMAN'S VALENTINE is nevertheless an intelligent and provocative film. Based on the novel by George Dawes Green (who also wrote the screenplay), THE CAVEMAN'S VALENTINE tells the story of Romulus Ledbetter (played effectively by Samuel L. Jackson), a mentally ill cave-dwelling man. One day, he discovers a dead body just outside his living space, causing him to immediately embark on a search to find the killer. It doesn't take long before you realize that you are not watching a run-of-the-mill murder mystery. Instead of bombarding you with pointless car chases and noisy special effects, THE CAVEMAN'S VALENTINE focuses on the demons inside Ledbetter's mind. This is represented through a series of highly stylized hallucinations and flashbacks. The film also explores the strained relationship between Ledbetter and his daughter, Lulu (Aunjanue Ellis of MEN OF HONOR). Their situation is further exacerbated by the fact that Lulu is a cop involved in the murder investigation. Simply put, there is no shortage of character conflict nor eye candy here. The dialog also crackles in the film. The best line is spoken by Tamara Tunie (the narrator on EVE'S BAYOU), who plays the role of Sheila, Lulu's mother. Written by an (uncredited) Lemmons, the line is sure to elicit a response from fans of Terry McMillan and similar novelists. Overall, THE CAVEMAN'S VALENTINE is an intriguing character study which includes a touching father-daughter relationship. This comes at the expense of gripping "edge of your seat" suspense, but don't let this keep you from experiencing this rich and complex film. Amelia Vincent's cinematography and Terilyn A. Shropshire's editing are first-rate. Terence Blanchard's score is seamless. (These three also collaborated with Lemmons on EVE'S BAYOU.) If you're a fan of typical summer movies that seem to care more about style over substance, you'll probably be better off to look elsewhere. On the other hand, if you've grown weary of loud thrillers with formulaic plots, you'll really appreciate this film. Check it out.
Rating:
Summary: Evaluated on two levels
Review: Really, this is a movie that I have a split reaction to. Taken simply as it comes, it's a satisfactory film, but under deeper analysis, some cracks begin to show in the foundation. Simply as entertainment, The Caveman's Valentine is more than satisfactory. The film delivers an interesting sort of detective story with interesting and engaging imagery and cinematography. The plot twist near the end, while not Sixth Sense level, certainly wasn't what I had been expecting, and after the movie, you're first thought will probably be, "Well, that was pretty good." On a deeper level, however, there are some inconsistencies with this film. My first, biggest complaint would be some of the unnecessary plot devices introduced early on in the film. This is an adaptation from a book, and while I can't say that I've read the original by Dawes, I'd bet that the tower and its mysterious owner played a larger part in the book than they do in the movie. As the film stands, there's a lot of information concerning Romulus's (Jackson's character) early life that has no relevance later on. It seems as though the film's cinematographer was a little too absorbed in the creation of a fantastic atmosphere for my taste as well. Don't get me wrong, this is an excellent film to look at. The problem is that the cinematography is occasionally allowed to get in the way of plot development and the telling of the story. Now, I realize that there's a lot of symbolism contained here and that the director and writer have a point to make about the mentally unstable, but there's a point at which you have to realize that what you're doing is costing more than it's worth. Of course, all of these realizations are ones that you would make after you finished viewing the film, not during the movie, which means that they don't truly impact the film as it is viewed. The audience's suspension of disbelief is held fairly consistently throughout, and the viewer can truly identify with Romulus, so I suppose some belated misgivings can be forgiven. The bonus materials are better than average, but still not the best. Particularly annoying was the presentation of the deleted scenes. Now, I always end up watching all of them anyway, but it's much clearer to present them separately, rather than as a single piece, as is the case here. I've always particularly admired Shyamalan's approach in the Sixth Sense, with his expanded elaboration as to why the scenes were removed in the first place. In one case, this is evident with this film (the moth-Seraph scene would just have been confusing), but in other cases the scenes which were deleted might have made the movie easier to understand. All things considered, The Caveman's Valentine is worth 5 stars immediately after you see it and 3 stars on later consideration, so I took the average. This is a movie that you could probably enjoy for a long time to come, especially if you like the fantastic imagery and cinematography, so I feel safe in recommending this to any interested audience.
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