Rating: 
Summary: the frogs will reign
Review: I was surprised at the lack of appreciation this movie got, and was actually talked out of seeing it. This movie was quite a surprise, and it scared me on a lot of levels. There were so many hidden ironies that watching it multiple times is almost a must. Contrary to what other people have said, Anderson did a fine job of balancing the multitude of actors, and throughout the whole movie- through every scene that, in any other movie, would come off as funny - these scenes were tense. And after going through the entire 3 hours of the movie, the last 5 minutes dont seem nearly as awkward as everyone describes. Fantastic movie.
Rating: 
Summary: So ambitious it's destined to fail
Review: Paul Thomas Anderson's sweeping, biblical film is too epic for its own good. Everything is overdone in Magnolia. Too many characters, too many stories, too much emotion. Every scene is overflowing with emotion, and it becomes exhausting to watch after the first two hours. The film is very self-indulgent, and it could win the award for the most hubristic piece of cinema I've ever seen. That's where it's flawed: one gets the sense that Anderson set out to make the "ultimate" movie. It's all in their, every theme you could ever want. It's simply too ambitious a task to pull off. The film also suffers from definite pretentiousness. From the frogs at the end (The Bible! duh), to certain camera angles that are far too show-offy. On the better side, the acting is fabulous. And don't let the three hours running time scare you. It found it to move rather fast.
Rating:
Summary: Stylistically Fascinating
Review: This movie is worth seeing, simply because you have never seen anything like it. Anderson jumps from story to story, weaving a quilt that casts a sad spell over the viewer. I think Anderson is trying to bring you his vision of life: it's painful, we do things we regret and can never take back, happiness is elusive but should be grabbed where it can and a few caring people can make a difference in the lives of others.I liked this movie much more the second time I saw it. The first time it was a bit hard to make sense of - all the story lines, the weird intro about coincidences and, of course, the frogs. The second time I saw it I had digested the style and come to appreciate it and could concentrate a little more on the stories. There is also the wonderful Aimee Mann soundtrack - I became an Aimee Mann fan as a result of hearing her in this movie. There are some snippets of dialogue that come right out of the Aimee Mann songs.
Rating: 
Summary: :)
Review: In order to get P.T.'s rambling, froggy flick Bring with a bible
Rating:
Summary: A great movie...plus an explanation of the frogs...
Review: First off, I have to say that this truly is my favorite movie. The performances are stellar, the art direction is beatiful, and the writing/directing are fabulous. However, I hear many people complain about how it is a waste of three hours, just because there is no final climax -- For those of you that just enjoy movies following an agonic model (there is a definate start and finish, eventually solving some form of problem/situation), this isn't for you. For other with an open mind to a more episodic model of a movie, you might enjoy this. So again - this movie is not for everyone -- if you're someone who can't sit through a play, or an opera, you may want to venture away from here. But one last thing -- I notice that 90% of the people that hated the movie mentioned "those stupid frogs," noting that they were so stupid, and made no sense -- for all of you out there who don't get it -- They ARE a biblical reference to Exodus 8:2 (hence, all of the "82's" in the movie, and a few references to "Exodus")...The idea is that in the bible, the problem got SO bad, that the only way to solve it was by a miracle that was completely out of the ordinary. The frogs fall at the climax of each character's story in Magnolia, when nothing logical can make them see the error of their ways...after the falling of the frogs, each person's problem may not be solved, but it seems a little bit more possible to fix it. So that's that -- feel free to still hate it, that's your choice, but realize that not every story needs to necessarily include a start, a middle and an end...all in perfect order.
Rating:
Summary: Visually stunning!
Review: This is one of those movies you don't see often. It is not a normal movie like others, and it doesn't has a normal story. The way of filming isn't normal either, and I think that real movie lovers will love this movie because of the beautifull way of filming and montage plus the very good score and songs which fit perfect in the film. The movie begins brilliant which shows right away that this isn't a normal movie. But you think it will be a comedy and it isn't. Then, the first hour you will look at it wondering what happens and after the first hour you still don't have a clue where it exactly is about. But don't worry, everything will make sense at the end. The acting is also fantastic, from the prefect preformance of Tom Cruise as the sex-therapist to the boy genius. Everybody is great. I only didn't like William H. Macy very well, but that's just me. And well, the frogs... I think Paul T. Anderson means that symbolic and everything thinks different about it. One way to think at it, is that it is the plague of the Bible and after that, all the sins of the characters are forgiven and they can live again or die in peace (that's the way my mother thought of it). I think this movie is a must to see for all movie fans, and you will like it as well if you like strange and very deep movies.
Rating:
Summary: Superb, but...
Review: *As with all of my DVD reviews, I do not review the quality of the movie but the quality of the DVD* If you like the movie, you'll love most of the DVD. Then you'll probably be left scratching your head over why there is no commentary track. This is tragic, because the Boogie Nights commentary was so good. All of the other features are of high quality, especially the documentary, which is superb and long. Sound and picture are very good. ac
Rating:
Summary: everything you never expected
Review: Rent it first. Commit the 3 hours to watch it - and watch it with an open mind, and without distraction. If you're dead-set on living life as a series of predicable events, this movie is not for you. Then again, maybe it'll be a wakeup call.
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Summary: Leaping Frogs! This is Great Filmmaking!
Review: Okay, this film deserves 4 stars, but I added one for the supplimental stuff on the second disc--which was a nice treat and is well-worth watching. And I'm also proud to say that I'm a fan of Mister Anderson's work (do yourself a favor and check out "Hard Eight" and, of course, "Boogie Nights") and his story-telling-sytle. Here he's got a collection of interesting characters and circumstances, and much praise to Tom Cruise for forgetting self-image (I know you want to be known as a "nice guy" Tommy, but you're an actor) and for the emotional depth of his performance which was quite stunning to watch (was he panting like a dog in one scene? Interesting!). And much more praise for character actor Phillip Seymour Hoffman--he's outstanding in mostly everything he does. But the characters don't quite make the connection it was intended to make in the end. Redemption comes in the form of a Biblical downpour of frogs, which is creative and Oh-My-Gosh incredible, but it does not full achieve closure to those souls that had lost themselves.
Rating:
Summary: Magnolia is, without a doubt, the greatest movie of all time
Review: I don't understand why most people that I talk to hated Magnolia. They say that it was too long and boring and pointless. Well, I will admit that it is a bit lengthy, but in the end, it doesn't matter. At the end of the film, I just sat in my seat mesmerized for five minutes. And I'm only 16 years old, but this movie held my interest for the whole time. The best performance in the movie is by Philip Baker Hall, who plays Jimmy Gator, a game show host who's trying to patch things up with his daughter before he dies. Tom Cruise as Frank TJ Mackey is excellent as well, and John C. Reilly gives a very emotional performance as Jim Kurring, a police office in love with a coke addict. The great thing about this movie is how all of the 9 main characters are connected in some way. Paul Thomas Anderson is truly a genius: first Hard Eight, then Boogie Nights, and now Magnolia. You owe it to yourself to see Magnolia: why it didn't even get nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards is beyond me.
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