You've Got Mail

Rating:
Summary: Romance amidst technology
Review: I found this to be a very pleasant movie, full of wit, romance, comedy and a bit of eccentricity as well. Tom Hanks is a Master Actor who gives us, once again, an excellent performance. His gestures, movements and the imitations to segments from "The Godfather", show us just how much he is capable of delivering in his job. His chemistry with Meg Ryan is absolutely fantastic, you can see they really enjoy working together and this is, no doubt, what makes over 80% of the movie succesful. I don't think Meg Ryan is a great actress per se, but she shines in this kind of movie, she really does. The movie takes place in none other than art mecca New York City, Hanks playing the part of a bookstore magnate, just opening a huge bookstore on the Upper West Side, leaving small bookstore owners like Ryan (who owns a charming children's bookstore "just around the corner") very much out of business. There's a parallel in their personal lives as well: a relationship through e-mail that don't know about... just yet. The comedy keeps developing, supported by great actors like Greg Kinnear, Jean Stapleton and Parker Posey. Typical New York landmarks are also displayed as a setting, such as the wonderful food store "Zabar's" (extremely expensive but full of delicacies), "Cafe Lalo" (much more intimate than today's "Starbucks"), and "Grey's Papaya", where the most delicious hot dogs are said to be found. This movie not only will appeal to fans of the Hanks-Ryan duo, but to booklovers as well, since it revolves all around the book world, depicting the big problems that the advent of the big bookstores (such as "Barnes & Noble" and "Borders"), represented for the smaller bookshops that have been around forever.

Rating:
Summary: Meg Ryan Is Great!
Review: Starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan, a great movie about an internet "couple" who finally make plans to meet. They hardley knew each other, but then again... they did! see what I mean when you've got mail.

Rating:
Summary: Return to Sender
Review: In my opinion, one of the worst movies I've seen in a long time. (I wanted to rate this movie zero stars, but Amazon only allows ratings from one to five.) While I admit that I'm not the biggest fan of Nora Ephron's directing/writing work (Sleeples in Seattle, Michael, Mixed Nuts & Hanging Up), I was willing to give this movie the benefit of the doubt because I do like Tom Hanks. Needless to say, even Hanks couldn't carry this god-awful mess. The dialogue is so sappy and forced you tend to wonder how Hanks could pull off his lines with a straight face. Meg Ryan dials in her usual "look how cute I am!" performance.

Here's the plot: Hanks is involved in a buyout of the bookstore where Ryan works. Unknowingly, Hanks and Ryan engage in a cyber relationship and slowly fall in love. A good premise, but in the hands of the overrated Ephron it falls flat.

This movie is marketed as a "date" movie. Do your date a favor and watch "Caligula". Even that sorry film had more romance than this fluff.

Rating:
Summary: Good, a bit unrealistic, but good
Review: I actually have to confess to the small audience that is probably reading my reviews that I actually thoroughly enjoy romantic comedies. I thought that this movie was very good. I enjoyed watching it and I thought the plot was very entertaining, if a bit unrealistic.

Here's the story. Kathleen Kelly(Meg Ryan) is engaged in an online relationship with an anonymous identity and they chat a lot and converse about their love life, work, and other problems. Sounds pretty realistic, huh? Well Kathleen owns a small bookstore called The Shop on the Corner and her online buddy is Joe Fox, the owner of Fox Books, that has incidentily moved to the location just down the street. But she doesn't know who that he owns Fox Books from chatting with him online. A little twist in a lighthearted comedy, eh? Well, this is when the plot starts to get predictable, they meet and initially hate each other, but still are friends online, they both break up with their respective significant others, they meet, but only Fox realizes she's the one he's been chatting with online, Kathleen is oblivious. Then they start going out, develop a relationship, and at the end they meet and their is that moment of tenderness. Kinda saw it coming, didn't you? Other than being predictable, this movie is a definite treat for the old VCR. See it and if you like Sleepless in Seattle, buy it!

Rating:
Summary: Thin line between love & hate :-) F.O.X.!
Review: Ooohhh, I just love Meg & Tom. I have yet to see one (just one) movie where I will not like either of them. To date, I have seen all of their movies (together or separately)& I just LOVE them.

I am quite skeptical when it comes to cyber relationships. I have to see & know the person well before I can trust & maybe like him/her at all. In the movie, Meg & Tom made it possible for people to trust one another & even become the best of friends over the Internet. At times like this, it may not sound like a good idea but they made it appear so safe & sound & plainly aggreable.

The movie is full of laughter & cute events especially between the two characters...a perfect teaming up for our lead stars. They are simply natural ...such a perfect pair!

Though the story is not-so-original, I immensely enjoyed it. It made me laugh, cry & want to fall in love once again.

Here's looking forward for another Tom-Meg team up in the near future.

Rating:
Summary: I want to get mail!
Review: The movie is great! If you are alone at home and there is nothing to do, just take the tape and go for it! Great music, pretty girl, Tom is OK too....o;))) Very nice lite comedy, but if you think about it...... That might be the true story!

Rating:
Summary: A Nice Surprise
Review: I was prepared to dislike this movie and was pleasantly surprised when I watched it. Tom Hanks is a tough, no-nonsense businessmean whose empire forces Meg Ryan's small, family-run bookstore out of business. Then an unlikely chemistry develops, and to stay current with the time, the script includes the Internet and its most widely used feature, email. Tom Hanks continues to spin comedy around his refined sarcasm and witticisms over Socratic reasoning. Meg Ryan walk a tight rope between overacting and good performance. In the end, I think, the movie succeeds becuase it has a good script, good acting, and a fast developemt of events. This is much better than I expected. The soundtrack is as good as "Sleepless in Seattle" and the movie itself is better. I would not miss this one.

Rating:
Summary: It's not the best, but it could be worse
Review: Hanks and Ryan interact well together and it was nice having a movie make use of technology as an integral part of the plot - but it doesn't get 'nerdy' or technobabble-ish. I also enjoyed having the bookshops as I'm a great reader and haunter of bookshops and it's something I could identify with. Yes, it is v. cute and v. idealistic, but somehow you still feel happy at the end when they get together. There are some nice lines, the e-mail communication is done well, and overall it's pretty good. By the way, is it just me or does Kathleen Kelly not know much about Noel Streatfeild?

Rating:
Summary: great movie - worth seeing over and over
Review: I have rented the video long time ago. Now that it is on satellite TV I have seen it many times lately.

One of the tests I have for determining whether to buy a movie or not is whether you can watch it over and over again. This one passes that test. I came here to see if the DVD is getting good reviews.

As far as the movie itself, I feel compelled to say something. It is definitely a great movie. I like the combination of the acting both lead and supporting cast, the songs ( especially Nillson's songs, but also Carole King's, Joni Mitchell which were all from a nice time in my life, the 70's) and the plot/premise. If anyone has ever written letters whether conventional or email you know that sometimes you express yourself more easily using this mode. Allowing us access into their thoughts as they type or read letters gives us incredible insight into their personalities/character and makes every real interaction between the two that much more powerful because we know what they are thinking, and the most subtle of things you see (if you noticed them )have meaning, a word or phrase here or there, and the reaction to it whether it be verbal or non-verbal. And all superbly acted with perfect timing, and interaction.

I like Joe's character especially because I can identify with it somewhat. A professionally successful guy, strong, emotionally stable but knowing that something is lacking. That it is just as important if not more so than anything else, to seek out and find a woman to love who will love you in return, whom you can enjoy life with. Otherwise, one's life is somewhat empty. That is how I feel and I like this "feel good" movie based more or less on this premise.

Rating:
Summary: A fun movie, but flawed
Review: I enjoy watching this film and have seen it a few times but it's not a great film nor does it compare with Sleepless in Seattle. I just didn't think that there was much chemistry between the Ryan and Hank characters. I also found it hard to believe that Hanks (a cocky businessman who laughs when he's told that his company just put a small bookstore out of business) will live "happily ever after" with the Ryan character who is anti big business and lost her family bookstore because of Hanks. Still it's a fun film and I enjoy it each time I watch it.

One other note: Anyone else find it strange that the Ryan character, who spends much of the movie complaining about the big chains that come in and put the little neigherhood shops out of business, is shown buying her coffee at Starbucks. A little inconsistent I think.