Mixed Movie Reviews

Related Subjects: Language_and_Linguistics
Family movie reviews for "Mixed" sorted by average review score:
American Ballet Theatre at the Met - Mixed Bill
Released in DVD by Kultur (25 February, 2003)
MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Director: Brian Large
Average review score:

If it's American Ballet Theatre, you can't go wrong
This eclectic program (Les Sylphides, Sylvia pas de deux, Kenneth MacMillan's Triad, and Paquita) is a beautiful slice of ABT's wide range of repertory and features sparkling performances from Baryshnikov, Cynthia Gregory, Fernando Bujones, Cynthia Harvey, Marianna Tcherkassky, Martine van Hamel, and many others. Although the taping itself is a little less engaging than I would like (ABT's 1998 tape, Variety and Virtuosity, is far superior in this aspect), this is still a wonderful addition to any ballet fan's collection.

Excellent Performances of from the American Troupe
Thsi video is ripe with great performances. The first is an awsome performance of "Les Sylphides". Led by Baryishnikov, it has some exceptional dancing.

Next is a performance of "Triad" a modern peice with Amanda McKerrow. Its is done well.

Next is Natalia Makarova's staging of "Pquita" the famous excerpt of Petipa (creator of Swan Lake, Nutcracker, La Bayadere) done very well by the leads and soloist.

Great video 5 stars.

From The Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E Frankweiler
Released in DVD by Pioneer Video (17 October, 2000)
MPAA Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Director: Marcus Cole
Lauren Bacall plays the title role (which is actually a supporting role) in this smart and snappy children's film adapted from the newberry Award-winning book. As Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, she's a very wealthy individual auctioning off a statue that may or may not have been sculpted by Michelangelo. The story quickly shifts over to Claudia (Jean Marie Barnwell), the middle child of the family. Of the three kids, she's the only girl, a straight-A student, and the one their mom relies on to help her with the chores. Claudia feels both taken for granted and neglected, so she devises a plan for her and her younger brother (who's got some money because he cheats at cards) to run away and have adventures. Her plan includes camping out in the Metropolitan Museum, which happens to be the same museum that bought the enigmatic sculpture. While the family searches for the missing kids, Claudia becomes obsessed with solving the secret of the statue. Is it or isn't it a genuine Michelangelo? Like Claudia herself, the script is smart, and it never condescends. The direction is equally smart, and the cast is universally good--which is saying something considering there are so many child actors involved. With messages like "feelings matter as much as learning" and "if you believe in yourself, then you don't need to cheat," From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler is an excellent way for a family to spend time together in front of the TV. The story was previously adapted for film in 1973, but this version was made for television in 1995. --Andy Spletzer
Average review score:

"Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler": Very disappointing film version
After reading E. L. Konigsburg's book, I was very excited to see this film adaptation of it. But it's not all that great--I was very disappointed. There are several differences between the movie and the book, one so much so that it ruined the whole picture for me.

The basic plot remains the same as the book: Claudia knew that she could never pull off the old-fashioned kind of running away...so she decided not to run FROM somewhere, but TO somewhere. And so, after some careful planning, she and her younger brother, Jamie, escaped. Soon, while exploring the Muesum, they set their minds to solving the mystery of Angel, a statue new to the muesum's collection, rumored to have been created by the ledgendary Michaelangelo.

But several minor details were changed. The entire character Saxonburg (although minor) has been deleted from the screenplay. Also, because of this, the way that Claudia and Jamie do eventually get home is different. (In the book, Saxonburg takes them home; here, their parents come and get them.) Also here, Jamie puts in a phone call to Mom and Dad, which sturs things up a bit. This was not done in the novel. An assortment of other things have been changed as well.

Lauren Bascall does a nice job as Mrs. Frankwiler, and the rest of the casting is good. But because of the changes from novel to screenplay, I dislike this version. Read the book (of the same name; winner of the Newbery Medal) first. Then try this, just to see how you like it. Also try the film "The Hideaways", another film version of this story. Hopefully it will be better!

Decent adaptation for a TV movie.
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler (Marcus Cole, 1995)

While doing the research on this film, I discovered that there have actually been two film versions of E. L. Konigsburg's delightful novel, with this one being the more recent. Most reviewers seem to prefer the 1973 version. Maybe they're right. But not having seen it, I have to say I liked this one well enough as a trip down memory lane.

Veteran TV director Cole (Beyond the Prairie: The True Story of Laura Ingalls Wilder) directs from Betty Goldberg (Trapper John, M.D.)'s script. Cole casts Lauren Bacall as the mysterious and un-first-named Mrs. Basil, Jean Marie Barnwell (Angie) as Claudia, and Jesse Lee (Bobby of the newer Brady Bunch stuff) as Claudia's brother Jamie. The story, for those of you who have been living under a rock for thirty years: Claudia feels neglected at home and wants to run away. She enlists the help (and money) of younger brother Jamie. The two of them, through a series of minor misadventures, end up hiding in New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art, where Claudia becomes obsessed with a mysterious angel statue that may or may not have been carved by Michelangelo, and she sets about authenticating the piece.

Really, it's about what one would expect from a TV movie, in terms of direction, acting, etc. Nothing here that's going to win any awards. But who cares? For those of us who loved the novel, there's enough of it here to jog your memory (and hopefully you won't be too bogged down by the piece of it that mysteriously vanish). *** ½

Fine book and a Fine film!!
I, as most of the other reviewers, began with the book as a child and saw the film later. This was one of my favorite books as a child and I remember the film THE HIDEAWAYS that was made 30 years ago. I loved the book and the THE HIDEAWAYS was okay, although it has some noticeable changes from the book. When I purchased this more modern version of the book I did not think I would enjoy a more contempory version of the story. I was wrong! Sure there are some changes from the book but not enough to alter the story line greatly. What I really enjoyed were the characters. Lauren Bacall did a very good job in her role as Mrs. Frankweiler, as did Jean Marie Barnwell in the role of Claudia and Jesse Lee in the role of Jamie.

So, while there are some changes as others have noted, this film still maintains the best elements of the book. I only wish more films adhered to the books from which their story was taken. Also, this story stands up over time. My 9 & 7 year old son & daughter enjoy this story as much as I did and still do.

Mixed Nuts
Released in DVD by Columbia Tri-Star (04 December, 2001)
MPAA Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Director: Nora Ephron
Starring: Steve Martin
Writer-director Nora Ephron hit a low point with this disappointingly dreary comedy set in a suicide clinic on Christmas Eve. The joke is supposed to be that all of the crisis counselors are themselves a pack of lovable losers, led by a badly toupeed Steve Martin. But it's a short step from lovable loser to annoying dweeb and most of the people in this movie cross that line very quickly. It's too bad, because the cast includes Madeline Kahn, Robert Klein, Rob Reiner, Garry Shandling, and Adam Sandler. Somehow, Ephron manages to restrain this lineup from doing anything funny. --Marshall Fine
Average review score:

fun
this is a fun movie and the cast is good it.

Holiday Chaos
This is a very funny, goofy, and chaotic Holiday flic. It really gets you into the Christmas spitit! The Holidays wouldn't be the same without it!

mixed Nuts is nuts!
I love this movie. It's just so busy. There are all these little story lines that all mix together in a group of people, that are just a mess, looking for the silver lining in their own personal dark clouds, and hoping to find a little happiness on Christmas eve. Plus, there's a killer on the loose to go along with all that craziness. It's a fun movie, and there really is a moral to the whole thing if you stick it out to the end!

Benny "The Jet" Urquidez and Gokor Chivichyan No Holds Barred and Mixed Martial Arts Training
Released in DVD by Best Videos (01 January, 2003)
MPAA Rating:
Directors: Benny Urquidez and Gokor Chivichyan
Average review score:
No reviews found.

Related Subjects: Language_and_Linguistics