The Curse of the Jade Scorpion

Rating:
Summary: Finally a film that's actually worth seeing.
Review: In the horrid display of film this summer it is nice to see a film that doesn't have to rely on special effects (Apes, Jurassic, etc.), or undermine human beings (American Pie 2). There is finally a film that I can safely say is the best movie of the summer. One factor as to why it is one of the best this summer is because of the story and the script: they're good! Of course what more can you expect from Woody Allen the God of screen writers. I know a lot of people disagree though when I say this is the best of the summer, but I think that one of the reasons that people are not thinking that this movie is that great is because it is not one of Woody's best films. Which is true, it's no Annie Hall or Hannah and Her Sisters but it still is great. I agree completely with what Richard Roepert said, (paraphrasing) "anything that Allen makes is always much better than your average film". Perhaps I'm just rambling now, but the film deserves more credit thatn anyone is really giving it.

Rating:
Summary: No curse here
Review: I was surprised to notice how similar Curse of the Jade Scorpion was to Small Time Crooks. Most likely due to the fact that the format was, well identical. Curse of the Jade Scorpion is another one of Woody's light hearted, jazzy beautiful sentimental comedies. It is very nicely shot, and the ending makes the Scorpions final sting a great one. But while Small Time Crooks relied largely on the story, Curse of the Jade Scorpion goes for the dialogue. Which makes it a very intellectual film, with subtle highlights, such as foreshadowing of what has happened and what will happen - true brilliance. But if you want to see beautiful sweating babes as it seems most people do, this one isn't for you. It's a rare movie in today's world - one that lightly goes for the heart and mind, while remaining very funny. Why not 5 stars? While it probably is a 5 star film, it wasn't one that especially captured me, with its absense of beautiful sweating babes.

Rating:
Summary: The Curse of Aging
Review: Everything passes so quickly. One day you are young and carefree, then you wake up and realize that you have aged and no money, no presitge, no effort on your part can restore your youth. This movie is a suppressed shriek for help. Usually, Woody Allen plays a neurotic New York intellectual, but his self-depricating humor makes it fun and light. "The Curse of the Jade Scorpion" is altogether something different. The retro setting of his youthful days, the young women who fall for him, the yearning to be hypnotized--all these are signs of despeartaion. This is a self-indulgent project, yet I could not help but cry a little at the end of the movie. I am young compared to Woody Allen, but I could not help but feel for him. For everything passes so quickly.
The jokes are not that hilarious. The atmosphere of the whole project hangs over them like the sword of Damocles. The same goes for the acting, which is very professional but lacking in chemistry. I don't want to be old, please let me not be old, please tell me I have not spent my time in vain.

Rating:
Summary: Do not waste your money
Review: Woody Allen is beginning to show that he overworks himself. He wrote, directed, and stars in this non-funny film.
While we are used to Allen talking in monotone, having all the characters be static will rub most people the wrong way.

Rating:
Summary: Woody's "Curse" is a Good One!
Review: Honestly, I'm not really a big fan of Woody Allen. I didn't particularly care for "Small Time Crooks". But I figured I'd go see this anyway, and I gotta tell ya. IT WAS GREAT! Woody Allen and Helen Hunt play private detectives who go to a party and agree to be a part of a magic trick in which a magician hypnotizes them. Afterwards, they are not taken out of the spell and the magician still has complete control of them. He then proceeds to make them rob a security vault filled with jewels. A great script, very funny. And great preformances by Allen and Hunt. However Dan Akroyd is just downright annoying and all he does is whine throughout the whole movie. Other then that Woody has created a comic gem.

Rating:
Summary: Who cares if he's old!
Review: Haven't any of you movie nazis heard of "willing suspension of disbelief." It really doesn't matter whether or not Woody Allen is much older than Helen Hunt. Maybe if instead of him it was some old unknown actor I could understand the complaints, but it's freakin' Woody Allen-the man transcends age. He's an established comic genius and no one else could deliver his material nearly as well or with nearly as much spark and wit. Long live Woody Allen.

Rating:
Summary: MY PILGRIMAGE TO THE NEW WOODY ALLEN FILM
Review: It's becoming that Woody Allen can film nearly anything and I will find myself enthralled, as if in a hypnotic trance, yet knowing full well that nothing is happening on the screen. So what is it in "The Curse of The Jade Scorpion" that kept me comfortably staring at the screen as if I was enjoying it? Is it the heartfelt sentimental homage to detective yarns and mystery serials from the 1930s and '40s reminding us that some of these cheapie flicks were tautly directed by men on a shoestring budget with an expert's eye for detail and timing? Charlie Chan comes to mind. Is it the gorgeous brown-hued set designs demanding attention to the fads and fancies of the 1940's generation, as if to realize they were at one time a very young people? Is it the aging Woody himself like a soldier on a mission, marching into trivial movie territory again in an apparent attempt to streamline his fan base? Is it the expertise of the supporting cast who despite their perfection, can't conceal a glow of admiration for the little funny guy in the center of things making the movie? I really don't know. There were about fifty of us in the screening I saw for "The Curse of The Jade Scorpion". Some of us were there forever hoping to see another "Annie Hall", some hoping to just be amused, but we were all there to enjoy a quality we can't find in other films. Could it be love? This film is richly textured in authentic detail, you can almost reach out and touch 1940 New York City. The music is snappy good-natured jazz that buoyantly glides the picture along. But the intrigue, well ... Charlie Chan would have had this wrapped up in no time.

Rating:
Summary: A Woody For Allen
Review: I really enjoyed this movie. I plan to see it again just to make up for this summer's over-hyped duds. This movie was not a waste of time. A pleasent ending to one of my favorite seasons.

Rating:
Summary: This Movie is Anything BUT Cursed!
Review: 2001 to be honest has been a really disappointing year for Hollywood. Perhaps I was expecting too much. Maybe I was thinking since 2000 was sooooooo awful, 2001 would be amazing. I thought Hollywood would have fully recovered. I was wrong. In a summer fulled with duds like "Lara Croft:Tomb Raider", "The Mummy Returns", and worst yet, "Rush Hour 2", how many films, especially the comedies can we say we're well written, sharp, witty, and smart? I feel none. Sure, "American Pie 2" made me laugh, and I did like the movie as a whole, but, is it really a "great" comedy? To some 13-18 year old teenagers, I would imagaine they would say it's the greatest comedy they have ever seen before in their life and then some! But "The Curse of the Jade Scorpion" is the BEST comedy that has come out this entire summer! And it shouldn't really be a suprise since it's a Woody Allen film, and he is in my opinion, the greatest American comedy director making films today, bar none! I'm kinda sick and tired of hearing the old, and now cliche argument that Allen is too old for his films. If Allen had lost his comic timing I MIGHT say you have a point. This unfortunately happened to people like Laurel&Hardy, and Bob Hope. They're later film we're painful to watch. You felt bad for Laurel & Hardy in their later films like "The Bullfighter" and "Utopia". What was once full of energy and original at the time was now off time. We could see the jokes coming a mile away. The punchlines and the setup didn't have the same effect on us. But, in the case of Woody Allen, he still makes me laugh. I still enjoy watching him in all of his films, even in the ones I don't like. Why do people make such a big deal out of the fact that Allen acts alongside younger women, so what! I don't get what the big deal is. For some reason it doesn't bother me at all. Now secondly to people who say this movie isn't funny, you've proved you have no sense of humor. I must of laugh at least 12-15 times watching this movie, and that's not counting the smile I had on my face. There are some great one-liners in this movie, but don't worry I promise I want give them away. Allen and Hunt seem to have a good timing between them. They're bickering my remind some of classic comedies like "His Girl Friday". Which is what I think Allen was aiming for. Don't be suprised if you notice connections to other movies either like "Double Indemnity", or "The Big Sleep". Allen keeps the jokes coming at a pretty fast pace. He, and hunt, and even Charlize Theron have some great lines. And speaking of Charlize Theron, I never noticed what kind of good actresses she is. I've never thought too highly of her, and I'm not saying I do now, but, there's something in her that I didn't noticed before this movie. She's a "real" women. She has that charm, a certain sparkle to her that other great women of the past have had. People like Grace Kelly (who is the most beautiful screen actresses that ever lived!) and Audrey Hepburn, and Veronica Lake. She seems perfect for a good old-fashion noir comedy like this. The cinematography in this movie by Zhao Fei (Who shot "Sweet and Lowdown" also) is wonderful. He makes this movie feel like a real 1940's movie. The costume and production designes give the movie that feeling too. And I liked Allen's directing a lot. This is a movie that is going to get not one single Academy Award nomination and you know what it doesn't deserve any, but it's still a very enjoyable piece of work. To those who feel Allen is to old, or that he's not funny, guess what? It's your lost! The ONLY truly enjoyable comedy I've seen this summer. p.s. - I couldn't resist I have to give away one joke. I think Allen put this joke in to give some critics and the public who say he's too old the finger. There's a joke near the end of the film. I'd say,10 till the very end, Helen Hunt starts insult him about his age, talking about his wrikles, his glass...ect. Allen's reply is..."Your leaving out the best part. I'm losing my hair too"!

Rating:
Summary: Back to the funny
Review: Woody ceases to amaze me with his brilliant imagination. I can see how some people might criticize this film, expecting to see another complex story of doomed human relationships Woody had become so famous for. However, if you enjoyed such films as Bananas, Take the Money and Run, or Sleepers, you'll love this movie as well.