Review of Winged Migration (2001) by Classified C — 13 Mar 2004

[left][b]Winged Migration.

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The Nature documentaries usually fall within two categories. The first type unloads too many facts (via monotonous narration) in too short of a time While the second type provides too many facts (via the same monotonous narration) over too long a time. Well, Winged Migration seems to have struck a nice balance betwixt the two. The movie cuts the monotonous recitation of facts (the facts are presented through some very brief narration and subtitles) and it ends right on time. The film also has some truly magnificent (beautiful, gorgeous, astounding etc. etc.) cometography. Due to careful preparation the director is able to send a camera right up amongst the migrating flocks. It almost feels like we're just another bird winging along. It may sound odd...but considering the scale and the adventures/misadventures that transpire...the film feels like an epic.

[b]The Shining.

[/b]I found The Shining to be an uneven film. It has a few hair raising scenes (twin girls, blood in the elevator) and many tense/suspensful ones (the boy riding on his tricycle up and down the corridors). And yet for every hit there are at least one or two misses. Many scenes (that I presume were meant to be suspenseful) lacked tension (most notably the final showdown in the bathroom and maze). The cast was pretty uneven as well. I enjoyed the supporting cast much more than Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall (although, I did like [size=2]Danny Lloyd)[/size]. I disliked Nicholson because he failed to scare me. I suppose the scenes wherein he rants and rages (and cocks his eyebrows and gives that devlish grin) are suppose to make his character terrifying but....not for me. Afterall, it's Jack Nicholson, he does this same basic routine in all his films. Thus, his transformation,his gradual deterioration into a raving lunatic, just seems like more of his usual 'old' antics. Yet, despite its unevenness The Shining still has some remarkable moments...and I recommend it (just not very highly).

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