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"I Dreamed of Africa" (2000)
I Dreamed of Africa is exactly as entertaining as sitting through a slideshow of your neighbor's vacation. Kim Basinger stars as Kuki Gallmann, who wrote a book about her real life experiences moving to Kenya, and becoming a prominent animal rights activist. After a serious auto accident
in Italy, Kim marries Paolo (Vincent Perez) who has spent time with her while she was recovering. Her young son by a previous marriage approves, and the three of them decide to move to a ranch in Kenya to start over. The rest of the movie traces what happens to the family.
The photography and locations are breathtaking
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as these scenic images show, and Kim is very nice to look at, but there are a few things Hugh Hudson needs to keep in mind for his next directorial effort.
Just because a story is true doesn't make it interesting. Just because a life is interesting doesn't automatically mean that the story will be interesting. They call it a "curve of excitement" because a film should build to a climax, then have a resolution.
I Dreamed of Africa plays at a monotone, never getting more or less intense. While Kuki may have had a fascinating life, they did not tell a fascinating story. Critics pretty much agree on two stars, and IMDB users give it 4.7/10.
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Kim Basinger
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"American History X" (1998)
I am embarrassed to admit that I watched American History X for the first time today. I am not sure why I missed it before, but it is a powerful film dealing with racial problems -- specifically skinheads in Venice Beach California. Edward Norton, in an Oscar caliber performance, plays Derek Vinyard, the golden boy of the Venice Beach white supremacist gang controlled from behind the scenes by Cameron Alexander (Stacy Keach). His younger brother idolizes him, and is following in his footsteps. As the film opens, the younger brother is called to the principal's (Avery Brooks) office for writing a term paper on Mein Kampf and why Hitler had the right idea in race relations. That same morning, his brother Derek was released from prison after a three year sentence for murdering two black kids who were trying to steal his car.
Prison changed Derek (with a little help from Avery Brooks), and he tries to leave the brotherhood, and convince his brother to also leave. The story is told mainly in flashbacks, which are all in B & W, where we learn why he got involved, what he did to get arrested, and how prison changed him. Much
of the film is very graphic, and the language and violence is extreme at times, but one of the strengths of the film is in the portrayal of the White Supremacists. When they are calm, their arguments are nearly convincing, and it is easy to see how people who feel disenfranchised could
be persuaded by their rhetoric.
Critics see it as three stars, naming lack of character development in minor characters as the reason, but all agree that it works. Viewers seem to like it even more. 11,119 voters at IMDB give it 8.4/10, making it #54 on the all time top 250 list. Made on a budget of 10 m, it averaged $6 m a
week for 16 weeks. I agree with the critics at 3 stars, but would add that it is a must-see film.
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Fairuza Balk
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| Johnny Web
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"Love and Basketball" (2000)
The 11 year old son of a NBA star is about to lose his first playground game, so he pushes this new
opponent to prevent a clear drive to the basket. The opponent falls and is scarred - for life, as it turns out.
What makes the moment special is that the opponent is the girl who just moved in next door.
The scar she earned that day becomes a badge of honor, and a symbol through her life and their long relationship.
The film traces the ups and downs of their two-NBA relationship, with special focus on the women's side of the athletics.
It's a good love story. Although it doesn't stray too far from the formula, and things sometimes seem a bit too contrived and pat, it has an honesty in the interaction of the individual scenes, all of the major characters are complex and interesting and you feel like you get to know them. I especially liked the high-school scenes, in which the girl was trying to figure out the right gender behavior for a heterosexual woman who didn't think about anything but
basketball.
This film is not a great word of art, but is a well packaged and perfectly performed feel-good movie about people trying to be good people, trying to find their place in the world. I don't think I would have chosen this movie on my own, but once it started I got into it.
There is an ever so miniscule amount of nudity (a barely discernible nipple peek) from Sanaa Lathan, star of the movie and daughter of veteran director Stan Lathan.
IMDB summary: 6.6 out of 10. Apollo 76, Apollo users 86.
Rotten Tomatoes summary. Good reviews: 72% positive reviews in general, and a very high 86% from the top critics. It seems to me that the solid but unspectacular 6.6 at IMDb is in the correct range, while the 86% is misleading.
DVD info from AmazonPretty good DVD. Includes a widescreen version, blooper reel, deleted scenes, full-length commentary, isolated musical score, and some tapes from the auditions. The transfer is vivid and clear.
Sanaa Lathan
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"Point Doom" (1999)
A little quiz to see if you are savvy about Grade B films. In this one we have a few renegade California bikers who rip off their brother bikers. Stuff happens, they kill each other, the waves wash up their jackets on the beach. The end.
Now the quiz.
About half of the action in the film takes place in a club which employs many highly-trained Clothing Removal Engineers and Lap Entertainment Consultants. This club is run by
- Harrison Ford
- Sir Derek Jacobi
- Denzel Washington
- Andrew Dice Clay
When the good girl and her sister and their Talent Agent boyfriend get mixed up in the nefarious killing and drug dealing, and set up a meeting with the bikers on a deserted stretch of beach at three A.M., the good girl says to the others:
- Dress warm. I wish I could join you.
- Why would you we do anything that stupid?
- We're out of our league here, let's call the police.
- No, no cops. We have to do this alone.
The bikers all wear pressed clothing and have perfect teeth because:
- It's California.
- Hillary Clinton's universal dental care program.
- They married well.
- It's a bad movie.
In addition to the Diceman. Angie Everhart joined the fun, along with Richard Grieco, Jennifer O'Dell, and more of the usual suspects.
O'Dell was seen very briefly topless, in motion blur as she got out of bed. Miss Everhart remained clothed, pretty much appropriately to visit a devout Islamic country, minus the veil.
The rest of the nudity came from trained Clothing Removal Professionals who were not named in the script. Number 5 is probably the clearest and nicest shot.
IMDB summary: (still awaiting five votes)
Sorry, no DVD available for purchase. No tape either. It's another one of those available only for rental and only at Blockbuster. Blockbuster is carrying the DVD, which was the source of these captures.
O'Dell
Strippers
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| Graphic Response
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Santha Press, from "In too Deep".
| Celeblover
| | Teresa Weißbach |
For the Euro Scoopy fans... Sind hier einige szenen mit minimaler berührung vom film "Sonnenallee".
Hey, if the German stinks don't blame me. I was playing with Babel Fish language translations.
| | Julia Bremermann |
No exposure in these scenes from "Die Traumprinzen".
| | Ellena Meißner |
More scenes from "Sonnenallee", there is a little exposure, but it is difficult to see.
| | Angela Roy |
No doubt about it topless images from "Die Traumprinzen". No eye strain or imagination needed to enjoy the nudity in these 'caps.
| | and ...
| Jane March
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Scanman takes another look at "The Color of Night".
Several thumbs up for these. Images #1 and #2 especially stand out. There are several frames of underwater scenes that look amazing. Kudos to the folks who shot the scenes for avoiding the usual pitfalls of everything looking blue underwater, and of course to Scanman for his usual great 'caps.
| Amy Lindsay
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I think this may be a first for vidcaps from the movie "Timegate: Tales of the Saddle Tramps". Don't worry, I've never heard of it either. The only reviews in the IMDb say "Don't rent it", and 'everything in this movie is terrible'. But at least this is 'new to me' nudity. So I guess that must be worth something. Thanks to Scorpion for these images.
| Kim Yates
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Also from "Timegate: Tales of the Saddle Tramps". Much like the other scenes from this movie, this is 'new to me' skinemax style softcore nudity.
| Jessica Alba
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From ABYS, new DVD 'caps of Jessica featuring loads of cleavage, from "Idle Hands".
I've mentioned how much I surprisingly enjoyed "Idle Hands" in past issues, so I won't bore you again. But it was a decent movie with horror, humour, and Jessica running around in her undies. Definitely worth renting
| Kellie Martin
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Here's a celeb that doesn't make many appearances in the Fun House. These images from Maxim. #1 features a little pokie action. #2 features massive cleavage. and #3 has Kellie in a bikini top
| | Lisa Loring |
A rare find that is new to the Scoopy family. Most of us don't know the name, but Lori was the original Wednesday Addams from the 60's TV show "The Addams Family". These topless and frontal images from the 1988 movie "Iced".
| | Kate Beckinsale |
Topless vidcaps by Charlie from the movie "Uncovered".
| | Penélope Cruz |
Still more topless paparazzi pics of the lovely Penélope at the beach.
| | Yvette Mimieux |
Topless 'caps by Don Juan from the movie "Jackson County Jail".
| | Kim Cattrall |
Topless scenes from "Sex and the City".
| | Sarah Jessica Parker |
Pokies from "Sex and the City".
| | Amanda Redman |
Topless scenes from the UK mini series "Close Relations".
| | Liz Hurley |
PicCap takes us back to summer with another look at these recent topless paparazzi pics.
| | Lorissa McComas |
From "Live Nude Shakespeare".
| | Sonia Braga |
Fun House regular, and one of the most often nude (and non-skinemax or porn) celebs in showbiz. Here she is in a see-thru top.
| | Kirsten Dunst |
Comments by Sisyphus:
Looks like this girl has been working out a bit. Lots of grain but my thanks to "Valentino". I used his tip of incorporating the grain into the border to balance the image. I found this pic in a copy of Hamptons Magazine.
| | Unknown Mystery Babe |
Anyone have an ID on this actress from "Gun Shy"?
| | Leah Ayres |
Topless in these scenes from "Hot Child in the City".
| | Valeri Glandut |
Showing every angle in "Oviri"
| | Assorted non-nudes
| Sarah Michelle Gellar
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Lots of Buffy from FHM.
| Julia Louis Dreyfus
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Cleavage from "Seinfeld", by The Night.
| Aaliyah
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Singer/Actress. Scans by Stop Motion.
| | Beyonce Williams |
Also by Stop Motion.
| | The Funnies
| | Halloween Humor |
Nudie Bar Honesty
| | Santa |
Tan lines
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Video comparison
TITANIC VIDEO: $9.99 on Internet.
CLINTON VIDEO: $9.99 on Internet.
TITANIC VIDEO: Over 3 hours long.
CLINTON VIDEO: Over 3 hours long.
TITANIC VIDEO: The story of Jack and Rose, their forbidden love, and subsequent catastrophe.
CLINTON VIDEO: The story of Bill and Monica, their forbidden love, and subsequent catastrophe.
TITANIC VIDEO: Jack is a starving artist
CLINTON VIDEO: Bill is a bullshit artist.
TITANIC VIDEO: In one part, Jack enjoys a good cigar.
CLINTON VIDEO: Ditto for Bill.
TITANIC VIDEO: During ordeal, Rose's dress gets ruined.
CLINTON VIDEO: Ditto for Monica.
TITANIC VIDEO: Jack teaches Rose to spit.
CLINTON VIDEO: Let's not go there.
TITANIC VIDEO: Rose gets to keep her jewelry.
CLINTON VIDEO: Monica's forced to return her gifts.
TITANIC VIDEO: Rose remembers Jack for the rest of her life.
CLINTON VIDEO: Monica doesn't remember jack.
TITANIC VIDEO: Rose goes down on a vessel full of seamen
CLINTON VIDEO: Monica...uh, never mind.
TITANIC VIDEO: Jack surrenders to an icy death.
CLINTON VIDEO: Bill goes home to Hillary (basically the same thing).
Funny Virus
This was sent to me today....
You have just received the "Arkansas Computer Virus"
As we ain't got no programming experience, this virus works on the honor system: Please delete all the files from your hard drive and manually forward this virus to everyone on your mailing lists. Thanks for your cooperation.
Sincerely,
University of Arkansas Computer Engineering Department
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