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13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Don't watch alone. Don't eat during this., January 13, 2005
After originally seeing the second first, and then borrowing the superbit of this to watch, I'm actually glad I did it that way. That way, I didn't have to compare the sequel to the original if I'd seen it the right way round. Despite reading other reviewers bad reviews, I quite liked it. It dragged a bit in the middle, but the cast were excellent.
With stars like Jennifer Lopez, Eric Stoltz, Owen Wilson, Jon Voight, Ice Cube and the fabulous Jonathan Hyde, it worked. Some of the plotlines were only hinted at, and could have been expanded if it had been rated a 15 or an 18. (Particularly the 'love' story between J-Lo & Eric - there seemed to be stuff missing from that whole sub-plot.) I loved how Jennifer (as she now wishes to be known) looked in this movie - the hair was naturally curly, and really nice, rather than straightened within an inch of its life. If you compare her here, to now, you'll notice she's become very Hollywood over the last few years. The hair's blonder, and she's skinnier too - and has noticeably given her Latino roots up. I didn't like Jon Voight's character very much - I found why he did what he did was never really explained, and one of his final scenes will either make what you're eating get thrown in the air, or you'll choke on it. Plus, he had a really dodgy Steven Segal-esque ponytail. Ugh. Most particularly, I loved Jonathan Hyde. I've never liked him much in the other movies I've seen him in (Dr Allen Chamberlain in The Mummy, and J. Bruce Ismay in Titanic - I didn't even realise it was the same actor from the latter!), but his character in this was really nice, and even funny.
Although some of the CGI snake scenes were slightly dodgy, especially when they spun their victims in the air - if they were still, it wasn't that bad - they were still good, and effective scenes. They were just as cute as they were in the sequel, and had lovely big eyes. I was particularly impressed with the detail that went into the close up shots, and a shot near the end, of a character (I won't ruin it) getting swallowed whole, and the camera actually appears to be inside the anaconda. Very funky - although a little too pink.
Eric Stoltz seemed to have an easy ride during the movie, as he spent most of the movie in bed, after receiving a quick, probably not very well done, tracheotomy.
This probably isn't the best movie for hard-core, serious moviegoers to see - they'll rip it to shreds, rather than just appreciate it. And what guy is not going to want to see Jennifer bra-less and running around soaking wet, and screaming her head off? Probably the same guy who doesn't want to see Elektra, with a very lovely Jennifer Garner, going commando. I liked this movie. The sequel was slightly better, darker, but similar in some points.
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12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Voigt Carries the Film, July 14, 2004
When I watched Anaconda I was surprised that it was better than I expected. Part of the reason for that was the performance given by John Voigt.A film crew is traveling the Amazon in search of the elusive People of the Mist. On the way the rescue Voigt from a stranded ship. Voigt is a snake catcher and claims he knows where the People of the Mist can be found. In reality he is trying to lead them into anaconda territory where he hopes to catch a live specimen and make a fortune. Finally the truth comes out, as do the snakes and it becomes a battle between man and beast as well as between man and man. In the end the survivors prepare to return to their ruined careers when they stumble across the People of the Mist. John Voigt gave an excellent performance as a Paraguayan snake catcher (Paraguayan so as no one can tell if the accent is right). John shows off a physique that shows why he was chosen to play gigolos and boxers. I did not care too much for the black cameraman. He seemed to be one great big stereotype, so city bred he can't believe that fish live in water. The only other flaw with the film is the way the snake moves. Anacondas are strong but they can not support their entire weight on the tip of their tail. It also moved faster than a striking rattlesnake. Oh well, I still really enjoyed the movie.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Lightweight fun with gruesome deaths, September 1, 2006
The plot is thinner than a Kleenex, J-Lo attempts to play an (unusually gorgeous and well-dressed) aspiring film student who, with her tough-but-lovable assistant Ice Cube, somehow find themselves on a barge along with a few other ditzy Hollywood stereotypical characters, including an over-the-top Englishman, heading up some remarkably bug-free Amazon tributary to film a documentary.
As fate would have it, they happen upon Jon Voight's character (Jon Voight! Is that really him?!), who A) blows the other actors off the screen B) is a genuinely creepy psychotic presence. They "rescue" him from his stranded boat.
There are brief flashes of brilliance in this story, but they are paved over by the horsey acting from all parties excepting Mr. Voight and Mr. Cube. Jon Voight is terrific, and Ice Cube is playing himself. Who cast this mess? J-Lo's famous shape is displayed, nay, showcased, in at least half a dozen scenes. The movie is beautifully photographed, which makes the near-total lack of a believable story unfortunate, and the absurd ending, complete with the 100% anticipated surprise ending, leaves you yawning. By 2006 standards the special effects seem quaint.
Watch it for the cinematography and Jon Voight. And J-Lo's delectable corpus. Cute boobs and a sensational rear end, I must say.
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