4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Terrible, very depressing AWFUL film, February 18, 2003
By A Customer
There is not one thing to recommend this horribly depressing film. Mike Meyers ends up with a gun shot in his forehead and I suspect he wishes it had happened at the start of this film so he could have been out of it earlier.
The accents are extremely hard to understand, especially the children who have the most dialogue so many of the lines are completely lost.You can't even turn on subtitles to understand what is going on as the only ones offered are in Spanish.The main boy is a truly unpleasant, mean character given to temper tantrums, spitting at people, kicking them, fighting with everyone. A viewer wishes he would be the one who gets shot just because he is so unpleasant.
The package asks if you believe in miracles. The only miracle is that this truly unpleasant film ever got made and released. AVOID IT!
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not as bad as has been claimed, but yes, it has its flaws..., April 6, 2008
I bought this movie because I'm an Alfred Molina fan.
Firstly, I don't think this movie is the best movie ever, however, I don't think it's as bad as people claim. For the most part I could understand the accents (I'm not from Ireland). To be fair, I do watch a lot of independent and European films so I'm kind of used to making out accents, for those who aren't, there is no English Subtitles as a previous reviewer noted. There were a couple places, however, where I couldn't understand what was said. One time was during a heart-to-heart moment between Mike Meyer's character, Pete, and Mickey... not a clue what he said even after rewinding it twice.
I thought the kids were genuine and pretty good actors; they never broke from their character, which were kids dealing with the loss of their parents. I couldn't figure out really how the parents died... AIDS, somehow Pete was involved (getting them into drugs, perhaps), not sure, so that plot line falls short. Alfred Molina plays the part of a "mad scientist," but I wouldn't really call him that. I'd say he's more of a socially awkward scientist and he does well enough at the part. There's one beautiful piece of cinematography (not a lot in this movie, unfortunately) when he's up on a hill with his telescope crying: very nice (not his crying, just the scene). There are these strange "Teletubbie" sci-fi moments where you're half expecting a big baby face in the cloud to start giggling - due to lack of any budget I'm sure.
A previous reviewer notes that when the neighbors arrive to complain about the meteor the "...main kid talks about how that started the "war of the meteor", but they won - no explanation of how." I couldn't find that scene. The neighbors do arrive to complain after they get the meteor back, but the main kid, Mickey, says that started the "battle of the meteor," but it's very clear what he means, and he explains with the scientist on their side (Alfred Molina) they shouldn't have a problem keeping it.
Overall it's a fair movie, but yes, it has its plot flaws. Just think of it as a little-independent-mind-numbing-movie and you'll probably be alright, that is, if you can understand the kid's accents :) Good luck!
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful little gem of a movie, July 3, 2003
By A Customer
In complete contrast to a previous reviewer, I loved this movie. It portrays very realistically a family in a poor part of Dublin, battling with all kinds of problems, without ever being maudlin or depressing - in fact I found it quite heartening.
A wonderful performance by the little boy who plays Mickey, a surprisingly sensitive performance by Mike Myers, and good turns by the other actors; great use of color in the cinematography, and well-paced: one's interest never flags. A quirky little movie in a class of its own.
I've seen this movie twice on VHS and intend buying it on DVD now to add to my collection.
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