Terrific

Rating: 8/10 (3 August 2003)

I just rewatched this on TBS tonight, after making the mistake of watching the horrendous sequel on HBO last night. I can't recall a summer movie I enjoyed as much as this one when it came out in 1997, or a sequel I found as disappointing.
The charm of the film is its originality and freshness in its execution. Nobody takes themselves too seriously. The affection everyone on the creative team has is evident. In the sequel, everything is taken too seriously.
One of the best ensemble casts in memory. I hate big budget action/sci-fi movies. This one is aces.
Oh, and for the IMDB poster who commented "What was the deal with the bag of marbles at the end". It isn't a literal bag of marbles. It's a bag of galaxies. It shows how small and insignificant we are, and how our existence is totally out of our control. I think it's the most charming and deepest moment in the movie.