You've Got Mail
B+
12/20/1998 4:20pm Secaucus
Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan are abosultely charming in this 90-minute AOL
infomercial that just doesn't make a whole lot of sense.  But through
willing suspension of disbelief, or ignorance of business and personal
goals, one can appreciate the romance that develops.  More importantly
though, it validates the internet, finally, as an acceptable medium for
meeting and getting to know people.  Hopefully now I will no longer have
to explain how people can meet and become really good friends via the
'Net and yet never meet in RL.

Star Trek: Insurrection
B
12/19/1998 2:30pm Secaucus
The whole ST:TNG crew returns for a movie that is really no more than
an extended episode from the TV series.  All of the actors robotically
go through their lines in an extremely well-practiced manner, and
absolutely no new ground was covered, and no character development took
place.  No, Data's "discovery of fun" does not count.  The supporting
cast was lame, and the one actress in particular looked absolutely
dreadful, like she was on queludes the whole time, of just incredibly
sad and bored of being in the film.  As for Frakes's direction, I'm
sorry, but the whole thing just flew by me as "typical".  Better luck
next time!