The Majestic

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=80 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF" bgproperties="fixed" background="04000500dvldtc.png"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" ><B>Reel Movie Critic.com</B></FONT><B>     |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Reel Movie Critic.com"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id1352.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Amazon DVD Reviews"><U>Amazon DVD Reviews</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1375.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Aberdeen"><U>Aberdeen</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1096.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Affair of the Necklace"><U>The Affair of the Necklace</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1284.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Annas Summer"><U>Anna's Summer</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1364.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Awful Truth: The Complete Second Sea"><U>The Awful Truth: The Complete Second Season</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1390.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Beverly Hills Cop"><U>Beverly Hills Cop</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1217.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Blue Angel"><U>The Blue Angel</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1359.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Boycott"><U>Boycott</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1360.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Buffy The Vampire Slayer: The Complete F"><U>Buffy The Vampire Slayer: The Complete First Season</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1340.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Charlotte Gray"><U>Charlotte Gray</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1019.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Daresalam"><U>Daresalam</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1353.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Dark Blue World"><U>Dark Blue World</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1351.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Daughters of the Dust"><U>Daughters of the Dust</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1345.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" DeNiro Collection"><U> DeNiro Collection</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1251.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Disco Pigs"><U>Disco Pigs</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1330.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Endurance"><U>Endurance</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1350.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Female Trouble"><U>Female Trouble</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1347.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Grateful Dawg"><U>Grateful Dawg</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1328.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="I Am Sam"><U>I Am Sam</U></A>   |   <B>The Majestic</B>   |   <A HREF="id1365.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Mark Twain"><U>Mark Twain</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1389.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Mash"><U>Mash</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1168.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The One"><U>The One</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1021.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Our Lady of the Assassins"><U>Our Lady of the Assassins</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1313.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Porn Star"><U>Porn Star</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1357.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Roots"><U>Roots</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1348.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Saudade Do Futuro"><U>Saudade Do Futuro</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1159.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Session 9"><U>Session 9</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1077.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Seven men from Now"><U>Seven men from Now</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id273.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Up at the Villa"><U>Up at the Villa</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1410.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Trembling Before Gd"><U>Trembling Before G-d</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1361.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Tokyo Olympiad"><U>Tokyo Olympiad</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1346.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A Trial in Prague"><U>A Trial in Prague</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1363.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Tron: 20th Anniversary Collectors Editio"><U>Tron: 20th Anniversary Collector's Edition</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1138.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Vertical Ray of the Sun"><U>The Vertical Ray of the Sun</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1367.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Waking up in Reno"><U>Waking up in Reno</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1358.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A Walk to Remember"><U>A Walk to Remember</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1332.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Werckmeister Harmonies"><U>Werckmeister Harmonies</U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF" background="041d2c00dvldtc.png"> <div> <A HREF="id145.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Movie Newsletter"><U><B>Free</B></U></A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFF33" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="id145.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Movie Newsletter"><U><B> Movie Newsletter</B></U></A></FONT></div> <div> <A HREF="id278.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Top 10 Video Rentals"><U><I><B>New to Video</B></I></U></A></div> <div> <B>Traveling for Less</B></div> <div> <I><B>New Book Discounts</B></I></div> <div> <A HREF="http://site25521.dellhost.com/id361.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://site25521.dellhost.com/id361.htm"><U><B>Great Web Sites</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id744.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Whats New?"><U><B>What's New?</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id913.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Current Movie Reviews"><U><B>Current Movie Reviews</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id134.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Future Films"><U><B>Future Films</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id93.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Top Ten Box Office "><U><B>Top 10 Box Office</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id963.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Art House Films 20021"><U><B>Art House</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id358.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Movie Web Sites "><U><B>Movie Web Sites</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id1098.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="IMAX Films"><U><B>Imax Films</B></U></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=400 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> The Majestic</div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="501" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 135 WIDTH="495"><div> <IMG SRC="10a882810.jpg" border=0 width="130" height="129" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <A HREF="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/b00005tq52/reelmoviecriticc">The Majestic Soundtrack</A>  </div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="592" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="588"><div> <B>The Majestic </B>***1/2 (PG)</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="588"><div> Reviewed by Brenda Sexton</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="588"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="19" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="588" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 23 WIDTH="588"><div> Feel Majestically Good</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="593" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 ><NOBR><div> Peter Appleton/Luke Trimble; Jim Carrey</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Adele Stanton:  Laurie Holden</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="293"><div> Harry Trimble:  Martin Landau</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="293"><div> Director:  Frank Darabont</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <B>30 Second Bottom Line</B>:  A rising Hollywood star, writer/director Peter Appleton gets undeservedly blacklisted and shut out of the movie business.  He heads up north in his car driving along the California coast, has an accident and loses his memory.  He is found unconscious lying by the shore and is brought to a small town where he is mistaken for a war hero and is idolized until his memory returns.   </div> <bR> <div> <B>Story Line:  </B>Peter Appleton writes B movie scripts and is dating a wanna-be Hollywood starlet when he is caught up in the wave of the blacklisting of film industry people in the early 50's.  He is so blacklisted that he is completely banned from working in the industry.  His girlfriend immediately dumps him and, after spending hours slugging them down in a bar, he heads out for a drive up the coast with his stuffed pet monkey riding shotgun.  Though drunk as a skunk when he starts on this drive, he sobers up along the way and seems together when his car skids on a wet bridge and ultimately plunges, crashing into the water below.  Freed from the car, he collides with a caisson and is knocked unconscious.  Luckily, he washes ashore and is found there by an old man and his dog.  </div> <bR> <div> He is taken into the small town of Lawson where Harry Trimble quickly claims him to be his long lost war hero son, Luke.  The little town of Lawson lost many of their sons in World War II (over 60 of them), and in a wave of optimistic hope, the entire town, save one emotionally and physically damaged war veteran, goes along with Harry and enthusiastically accept that this is their Luke.  With absolutely no memory, Peter ultimately accepts that he must be Luke-even his steady girl Adele (Laurie Holden) from nine years ago buys into this being Luke.  With renewed hope and energy for life, Harry Trimble decides to reopen his long closed movie theater, The Majestic.  Luke and a team of townsfolk work day and night to fix it up and have a great time doing it.  Peter, the marginal Hollywood lowlife, is turning into Luke, a person with morals, beliefs and commitments.  When the theater is in full swing one of Peter's movies is played and his memory is triggered.  Knowing the truth, he approaches Harry Trimble who is now on his deathbed and Peter wants to tell him the truth.  As Peter confronts Adelle with his true identity, the Feds are closing in on the town to arrest him and bring him back to LA for a hearing on his communist activities.  Peter is a different person than when he left.  </div> <div> Back in the big city, Peter testifies and instead of taking the easy way out and reading a prepared false statement, he does what Luke would have done.  He tells the truth and stands up for the Constitution and Bill Of Rights.  He claims his right as a free American to consider other political methods and even though he had no interest himself in communism, he believes in the rights outlined by our forefathers.  Peter has become Luke and ultimately returns to Lawson to live the American dream of small town quality.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Tell Me More About It:  </B>This is the feel good movie of the year.  Amazingly it was produced before September 11<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" >th</FONT> yet it speaks directly to the patriotism and beliefs that are so much dearer to all Americans since that fateful day.  With most movies this year portraying cynical dark stories of our collective insensitive lives in our fast moving high-tech, money oriented world, this was a unique courageous movie to make.  That it hits our national button right now is an amazing coincidence and makes this movie that much more special.  It will make you feel good.</div> <bR> <div> Jim Carrey plays this serious, sensitive role with the subtlety it deserves and relates well to Luke's father and girlfriend showing talent outside of his typical comedic over-the-top roles.  As he transforms into Luke through the gentle development of the movie, the town as well transforms and overcomes its grief.  Hope and appreciation of life are renewed.  The depiction of small town life in the 50's is straight out of "It's a Wonderful Life" and it is wonderful.  Everyone respects each other and pulls together like a community should.  Does this kind of world still exist?  Whether it<B> </B>does or not, it is certainly endearing to watch and makes us wish it were our world.</div> <bR> <div> A great family, holiday movie, Frank Darabont deserves applause for taking a quality step back in time and dishing up a feel good movie sprinkled with a large dose of patriotism when, by a strange coincidence of timing, we all need it.  See this movie and feel good.  It just might be one of your favorite holiday presents to yourself!  </div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="592" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="588"><div> PG (language)</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="588"><div> Brenda Sexton <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Symbol" >Ó</FONT> 2001</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="588"><div> <A HREF="mailto:brendasext@aol.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:brendasext@aol.com"><U><U>mailto:brendasext@aol.com</U></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> Mini Filmography</div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="593" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 ><NOBR><div> Jim Carrey:  <I><B>Me, Myself & Irene</B></I></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="293"><div> Laurie Holden:  Echo (TV)</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 ><NOBR><div> Martin Landau:  The Joyriders</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Frank Darabont:  Shawshank Redemption</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>