Viewed in
2008
Premise
Based on the novel 'In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash' about a 1940's American boy's attempt to get the Red Ryder BB air gun for Christmas.
Who should watch
People who believed or have kids who celebrate Christmas.
Thoughts
I thought it was nice and quirky. The title might be a misnomer, because the film felt like a collection of short anecdotes about childhood life in 1940's suburbia and the author's family.
Even though the stories had an small-scaled, 'slice of life' vibe to it, there were quite a few memorable and hilarious scenes. The first scenes that come to mind would be the infamous tongue on the frozen flagpole scene, and when Ralphie says 'fudge!', only not that word. My favorite was the herky-jerky scene of mall Santa and the slide.
My childhood and Christmas experience was atypical. So while I enjoyed 'A Christmas Story', I did not feel that the film reached the 'must-see' pantheon. Nevertheless, I could tell that it had a universal appeal to American youths, and I can understand why so many of my friends loved this film.
What I would change
Nothing.
Showing posts with label 1983. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 1983. Show all posts
Never Say Never Again
Viewed in
2010
Formats
HD TV
Premise
Sean Connery returns as an aged James Bond. Allegedly a remake of Thunderball.
Hated
How un-Bond-like this was.
Thoughts
Much like an older Connery, it was slow and clumsy.
The motorcycle chase scene was pretty cool, and I liked the casting of Max von Sydow and Kim Basinger. Other than that, not much to complement.
Having an older Bond dealing with the times was an interesting premise, for about twenty minutes. After that, I began to wish for the good old familiar formula. There was no theme song with naked ladies, no gun-barrel opening, no Q, and different actors for Moneypenny and Felix Leiter. Everything just felt foreign. And what was up with that ridiculously confusing laser video game they were playing?
Currently, I have not watched Thunderball, so I do not know its connections. Allegedly, this was a remake.
Considered to be the "unofficial" Bond movie, I would agree that this movie never happened.
What I would change
Never made this movie.
Random
Talia Shire as a consultant?
2010
Formats
HD TV
Premise
Sean Connery returns as an aged James Bond. Allegedly a remake of Thunderball.
Hated
How un-Bond-like this was.
Thoughts
Much like an older Connery, it was slow and clumsy.
The motorcycle chase scene was pretty cool, and I liked the casting of Max von Sydow and Kim Basinger. Other than that, not much to complement.
Having an older Bond dealing with the times was an interesting premise, for about twenty minutes. After that, I began to wish for the good old familiar formula. There was no theme song with naked ladies, no gun-barrel opening, no Q, and different actors for Moneypenny and Felix Leiter. Everything just felt foreign. And what was up with that ridiculously confusing laser video game they were playing?
Currently, I have not watched Thunderball, so I do not know its connections. Allegedly, this was a remake.
Considered to be the "unofficial" Bond movie, I would agree that this movie never happened.
What I would change
Never made this movie.
Random
Talia Shire as a consultant?
Octopussy
Viewed in
2010
Formats
HD TV
Premise
Roger Moore stars as 007 who finds himself on an Indian island full of ladies while chasing a Faberge egg.
Loved
The masterful action-comedy, emphasis on the comedy. The Q and Moneypenny moments.
Thoughts
A ridiculously fun title befitting a ridiculously fun film.
This might have been the most outrageous out of the entire franchise, from circus assassins, to hot-air balloons, to a crocodile disguise (my fave). I had a blast with the top-notch MI6 headquarters scenes, including Bond's hilarious repartee with Moneypenny and Q. Even Q had had an expanded role in the plot, and he did not disappoint.
As one would expect out of an island of women, this film was overflowing with attractive ladies and double entendres, and Bond shamelessly enforced that aspect. Most of the action scene were either fun or exciting. This film mastered the action-comedy scenes, with an emphasis on the comedy, with its creative, humorous chases through Indian jungles and city. Looking back, I wonder if the film makers had been inspired by Raiders of the Lost Ark. In addition, there were exhilarating airplane and train stunts that still held up pretty well over time.
One thing that did not survive the test of time was the labored Cold War plot points. Kids these days might not realize there was once two Germany's. Clearly Soviets made for convenient antagonists back then. Also, just like Sean Connery's last years as Bond, age was catching up to Moore, and there were times where he did not look the part, physically.
It is arguable that they went overboard on the tongue-in-cheek in this film, but it was so well-executed and hilarious. Simply put, this might be the most fun I ever had in a 007 film.
What I would change
Nothing.
2010
Formats
HD TV
Premise
Roger Moore stars as 007 who finds himself on an Indian island full of ladies while chasing a Faberge egg.
Loved
The masterful action-comedy, emphasis on the comedy. The Q and Moneypenny moments.
Thoughts
A ridiculously fun title befitting a ridiculously fun film.
This might have been the most outrageous out of the entire franchise, from circus assassins, to hot-air balloons, to a crocodile disguise (my fave). I had a blast with the top-notch MI6 headquarters scenes, including Bond's hilarious repartee with Moneypenny and Q. Even Q had had an expanded role in the plot, and he did not disappoint.
As one would expect out of an island of women, this film was overflowing with attractive ladies and double entendres, and Bond shamelessly enforced that aspect. Most of the action scene were either fun or exciting. This film mastered the action-comedy scenes, with an emphasis on the comedy, with its creative, humorous chases through Indian jungles and city. Looking back, I wonder if the film makers had been inspired by Raiders of the Lost Ark. In addition, there were exhilarating airplane and train stunts that still held up pretty well over time.
One thing that did not survive the test of time was the labored Cold War plot points. Kids these days might not realize there was once two Germany's. Clearly Soviets made for convenient antagonists back then. Also, just like Sean Connery's last years as Bond, age was catching up to Moore, and there were times where he did not look the part, physically.
It is arguable that they went overboard on the tongue-in-cheek in this film, but it was so well-executed and hilarious. Simply put, this might be the most fun I ever had in a 007 film.
What I would change
Nothing.
Project A
Viewed in
1999
Formats
DVD (dubbed)
Premise
Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung star in a martial arts movie about pirates.
Thoughts
All I remember was that the comedy chemistry between Chan and Hung was fun, and there was tons of slapstick action.
What I would change
No idea.
1999
Formats
DVD (dubbed)
Premise
Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung star in a martial arts movie about pirates.
Thoughts
All I remember was that the comedy chemistry between Chan and Hung was fun, and there was tons of slapstick action.
What I would change
No idea.
The Right Stuff
Viewed in
2011
Formats
HDTV
Premise
Based on Tom Wolfe's book about the original seven Mercury astronauts.
Liked
The subject, the story-telling.
Thoughts
Despite its length, it never felt long. Despite it being made nearly thirty years ago, it never felt outdated.
My favorite part of the film was when the astronauts took matters into their own hands. It provided the heart of the story and really put me into their corner. The film did a very good job of distinguishing the main characters, as well as capturing the time and place of the beginnings of the space race. I also enjoyed how the film showed the media circus that surrounded the astronauts.
As a former software developer, the battles between the pilots and the engineers were right up my alley and the conversations were spot-on. For a such an ambitious, realistic film about a dangerous profession, I was surprised by the funny moments of levity and social commentary.
The cast was quite awesome, including Jeff Goldblum, Scott Glenn, Dennis Quaid, Ed Harris, Lance Henriksen, Harry Shearer, and the parents of Zooey & Emily Deschanel (in the form of DP and actress). They were all very charming and acted well, even when doing the obligatory macho tryout montage.
I haven't read Tom Wolfe's novel, but as a film, I found The Right Stuff to be entertaining and educational. The attention to detail, the acting, the pacing and the cool incorporation of archive footage made it an enjoyable, immersive experience that tapped into those exciting Buck Rogers days in American history.
2011
Formats
HDTV
Premise
Based on Tom Wolfe's book about the original seven Mercury astronauts.
Liked
The subject, the story-telling.
Thoughts
Despite its length, it never felt long. Despite it being made nearly thirty years ago, it never felt outdated.
My favorite part of the film was when the astronauts took matters into their own hands. It provided the heart of the story and really put me into their corner. The film did a very good job of distinguishing the main characters, as well as capturing the time and place of the beginnings of the space race. I also enjoyed how the film showed the media circus that surrounded the astronauts.
As a former software developer, the battles between the pilots and the engineers were right up my alley and the conversations were spot-on. For a such an ambitious, realistic film about a dangerous profession, I was surprised by the funny moments of levity and social commentary.
The cast was quite awesome, including Jeff Goldblum, Scott Glenn, Dennis Quaid, Ed Harris, Lance Henriksen, Harry Shearer, and the parents of Zooey & Emily Deschanel (in the form of DP and actress). They were all very charming and acted well, even when doing the obligatory macho tryout montage.
My biggest issue with it was the Chuck Yeager subplot. I liked it, and understood they they felt compelled to include him in the story, but was it necessary when the film was topping three hours?
I haven't read Tom Wolfe's novel, but as a film, I found The Right Stuff to be entertaining and educational. The attention to detail, the acting, the pacing and the cool incorporation of archive footage made it an enjoyable, immersive experience that tapped into those exciting Buck Rogers days in American history.
Scarface
Viewed in
2001
Premise
The rise and fall of Miami gangster Tony Montana.
Who should watch
Al Pacino fans.
Thoughts
Aside from one of the most famous scenes of all time, this movie did not deserve all the hype and posters in every rapper and athlete's homes.
His rise and fall just felt like any other gangster movie and none of the supporting cast stood out. Overall, it was an average movie with an over-the-top ending.
What I would change
Written a more unique gangster story.
2001
Premise
The rise and fall of Miami gangster Tony Montana.
Who should watch
Al Pacino fans.
Thoughts
Aside from one of the most famous scenes of all time, this movie did not deserve all the hype and posters in every rapper and athlete's homes.
His rise and fall just felt like any other gangster movie and none of the supporting cast stood out. Overall, it was an average movie with an over-the-top ending.
What I would change
Written a more unique gangster story.
Something Wicked This Way Comes
Viewed in
1997
Formats
Syndicated TV
Premise
Based on Ray Bradbury's novel about a diabolical circus and its demonic proprietor preying on townsfolk.
Thoughts
Don't remember much except that I didn't really like it compared to the book. Though Jonathan Pryce and Jason Robards were well-cast, and surprised that it was scored by James Horner.
What I would change
No idea.
1997
Formats
Syndicated TV
Premise
Based on Ray Bradbury's novel about a diabolical circus and its demonic proprietor preying on townsfolk.
Thoughts
Don't remember much except that I didn't really like it compared to the book. Though Jonathan Pryce and Jason Robards were well-cast, and surprised that it was scored by James Horner.
What I would change
No idea.
Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi
Viewed in
1995, 1997, 1998, 2000
Formats
VHS, Movie theater, DVD (all special edition)
Premise
In the conclusion of George Lucas' masterpiece, the Rebels attempt to take down the empire for good, and Luke tries to save his father.
Loved
Everything.
Thoughts
It's been awhile, but I recall that the last chapter did not disappoint, even the Ewoks. There were epic showdowns and satisfactory endings.
Like the others, if you have not seen this, then I pity you.
What I would change
Nothing.
1995, 1997, 1998, 2000
Formats
VHS, Movie theater, DVD (all special edition)
Premise
In the conclusion of George Lucas' masterpiece, the Rebels attempt to take down the empire for good, and Luke tries to save his father.
Loved
Everything.
Thoughts
It's been awhile, but I recall that the last chapter did not disappoint, even the Ewoks. There were epic showdowns and satisfactory endings.
Like the others, if you have not seen this, then I pity you.
What I would change
Nothing.
Style Wars
Viewed in
2007
Premise
A documentary about the emergence of graffiti in New York in the 1970's and 80's.
Who should watch
Anyone curious about the subject.
Thoughts
This was an excellent introduction and sampling of this subculture.
What was cool about it was the frank interviews with these graffiti legends. They talked about origins, the terminology, and politics. My favorite interview was the back-and-forth between a teen 'bomber' and his concerned mother. I was amazed at how many people they intereviewed, including one notorious for 'throwing up' on other people's graffiti.
Another thing I liked was the objective tone the film makers used. In addition to the bombers, there were interviews with then-mayor and other opponents. The film presented both sides of the story.
What I would change
I would have liked some more indepth exploration, especially the 'how' aspect of the art. Also, what about graffiti in other cities?
2007
Premise
A documentary about the emergence of graffiti in New York in the 1970's and 80's.
Who should watch
Anyone curious about the subject.
Thoughts
This was an excellent introduction and sampling of this subculture.
What was cool about it was the frank interviews with these graffiti legends. They talked about origins, the terminology, and politics. My favorite interview was the back-and-forth between a teen 'bomber' and his concerned mother. I was amazed at how many people they intereviewed, including one notorious for 'throwing up' on other people's graffiti.
Another thing I liked was the objective tone the film makers used. In addition to the bombers, there were interviews with then-mayor and other opponents. The film presented both sides of the story.
What I would change
I would have liked some more indepth exploration, especially the 'how' aspect of the art. Also, what about graffiti in other cities?
Superman III
Viewed in
2013
Formats
HDTV
Premise
A tycoon and computer programmer create Kryptonite that turns Superman into a bad guy.
Liked
Richard Pryor, Christoper Reeve.
Disliked
Pretty much everything else.
Thoughts
Well, I liked Reeve and Pryor, both elevating their game above the material. As the lead, Reeve continued his lovable portrayal of sometimes-bumbling Clark Kent, that made him endearing. I also dug Pryor's animated acting. He was a likable villain as he butted heads with General Hunt Stockwell- I mean Robert Vaughn. It was cool that they went against racial stereotype of having a black man portraying a computer nerd.
But aside from these two actors, there wasn't much to enjoy. The plot was nonsensical, characters acted like idiots, story-telling was meandering; the setup required to reach the actual described premise was a dizzying labyrinth of inanity. Compared to previous Reeve-era titles, each iteration felt more and more cartoony and incredulous, not just in terms of science (the outdated portrayal of hacking and satellites here was embarassing), but character behavior as well.
Lastly, while I liked Lana Lang (ironic she played Martha Kent in Smallville), I missed spastic Margot Kidder as Lois Lane to romantically foil our man Kal-El.
Superman III had three good qualities, Christopher Reeve, Richard Pryor, and the bank account hacking scheme made famous by Office Space. Unfortunately, the silly story and bad logic just made the movie laughably/cringe-worthy bad.
2013
Formats
HDTV
Premise
A tycoon and computer programmer create Kryptonite that turns Superman into a bad guy.
Liked
Richard Pryor, Christoper Reeve.
Disliked
Pretty much everything else.
Thoughts
Well, I liked Reeve and Pryor, both elevating their game above the material. As the lead, Reeve continued his lovable portrayal of sometimes-bumbling Clark Kent, that made him endearing. I also dug Pryor's animated acting. He was a likable villain as he butted heads with General Hunt Stockwell- I mean Robert Vaughn. It was cool that they went against racial stereotype of having a black man portraying a computer nerd.
But aside from these two actors, there wasn't much to enjoy. The plot was nonsensical, characters acted like idiots, story-telling was meandering; the setup required to reach the actual described premise was a dizzying labyrinth of inanity. Compared to previous Reeve-era titles, each iteration felt more and more cartoony and incredulous, not just in terms of science (the outdated portrayal of hacking and satellites here was embarassing), but character behavior as well.
Lastly, while I liked Lana Lang (ironic she played Martha Kent in Smallville), I missed spastic Margot Kidder as Lois Lane to romantically foil our man Kal-El.
Superman III had three good qualities, Christopher Reeve, Richard Pryor, and the bank account hacking scheme made famous by Office Space. Unfortunately, the silly story and bad logic just made the movie laughably/cringe-worthy bad.
Terms of Endearment
Viewed in
2007
Premise
Debra Winger and Shirley MacClaine play a mother-daughter duo in a love/hate relationship.
Who should watch
Chick flick lovers?
Thoughts
I really liked the first half. Anyone who has a paranoid parent could relate to Shirley MacClaine's great performance. In fact, there were a lot of themes that people could relate to in a not-so-perfect family, which is pretty much everyone in the world. Some of it was hard to believe, but very entertaining. The chemistry between Debra Winger, MacClaine, Jack Nicholson and Jeff Daniels made their characters likable. Nicholson's presence itself is capable of stealing the show, but he gave a nice, toned-down performance.
One thing that bugged me was MacClaine's character's motivation. I understand her paranoia, but I don't understand some of her other behaviors to her daughter, especially in terms of her husband. Perhaps I'll understand when I'm older.
But the main problem I had was the second half went into drama mode out of nowhere. The sadness and struggle was well done. Nevertheless, it was a complete 180 from the first half.
What I would change
Set the tone earlier that this film was a tragic-comedy.
2007
Premise
Debra Winger and Shirley MacClaine play a mother-daughter duo in a love/hate relationship.
Who should watch
Chick flick lovers?
Thoughts
I really liked the first half. Anyone who has a paranoid parent could relate to Shirley MacClaine's great performance. In fact, there were a lot of themes that people could relate to in a not-so-perfect family, which is pretty much everyone in the world. Some of it was hard to believe, but very entertaining. The chemistry between Debra Winger, MacClaine, Jack Nicholson and Jeff Daniels made their characters likable. Nicholson's presence itself is capable of stealing the show, but he gave a nice, toned-down performance.
One thing that bugged me was MacClaine's character's motivation. I understand her paranoia, but I don't understand some of her other behaviors to her daughter, especially in terms of her husband. Perhaps I'll understand when I'm older.
But the main problem I had was the second half went into drama mode out of nowhere. The sadness and struggle was well done. Nevertheless, it was a complete 180 from the first half.
What I would change
Set the tone earlier that this film was a tragic-comedy.
Vacation
Viewed in
2013
Formats
HDTV
Premise
The Griswold family's cross-country drive to the Walley World theme park proves to be much more arduous than they ever anticipated.
Loved
Road trip comedy.
Liked
Goofy performances.
Thoughts
Three decades later it still held up extremely well.
I laughed out loud numerous times, especially in the scenes when the family was stuck in the car. Writer John Hughes was spot on in portraying the stinky claustrophobia of being stuck in the backseat for long periods of time. It gave me plenty of unpleasant/hilarious flashbacks of my childhood family road trips before GPS, Google, Gameboys, satellite radio, smartphones, credit card ubiquity, and mobile entertainment.
Even though it wasn't directed by him, Hughes' sense of humor shined abundantly throughout, with a little raunch (hi, Beverly D'Angelo's boobies!) and 1980's cartoony slapstick. Even though the characters often acted exaggeratedly, their silly behavior was still derived from the stresses of cross-country journeys.
Overall, the cast was spot on as well, furthering the comedy with fun goofy performances. Before there was Homer Simpson, there was Chevy Chase as the clueless/stubborn dad. As the mother, D'Angelo got her share of strong performances, playing off of Chase. It was amusing to see Anthony Michael Hall prior to typecast as geek roles. Granted, it was early in his career, but I was bummed that John Candy's role was so small.
It's interesting to see how younger generations would react to the humorous situations in Vacation. I wonder if they could still relate if there's less occurrence of road trips without navigation nor mobile distractions these days. For me personally, I had a blast reminiscing about such misery. Definitely an iconic American comedy film.
2013
Formats
HDTV
Premise
The Griswold family's cross-country drive to the Walley World theme park proves to be much more arduous than they ever anticipated.
Loved
Road trip comedy.
Liked
Goofy performances.
Thoughts
Three decades later it still held up extremely well.
I laughed out loud numerous times, especially in the scenes when the family was stuck in the car. Writer John Hughes was spot on in portraying the stinky claustrophobia of being stuck in the backseat for long periods of time. It gave me plenty of unpleasant/hilarious flashbacks of my childhood family road trips before GPS, Google, Gameboys, satellite radio, smartphones, credit card ubiquity, and mobile entertainment.
Even though it wasn't directed by him, Hughes' sense of humor shined abundantly throughout, with a little raunch (hi, Beverly D'Angelo's boobies!) and 1980's cartoony slapstick. Even though the characters often acted exaggeratedly, their silly behavior was still derived from the stresses of cross-country journeys.
Overall, the cast was spot on as well, furthering the comedy with fun goofy performances. Before there was Homer Simpson, there was Chevy Chase as the clueless/stubborn dad. As the mother, D'Angelo got her share of strong performances, playing off of Chase. It was amusing to see Anthony Michael Hall prior to typecast as geek roles. Granted, it was early in his career, but I was bummed that John Candy's role was so small.
It's interesting to see how younger generations would react to the humorous situations in Vacation. I wonder if they could still relate if there's less occurrence of road trips without navigation nor mobile distractions these days. For me personally, I had a blast reminiscing about such misery. Definitely an iconic American comedy film.
Valley Girl
Viewed in
2012
Formats
HDTV
Premise
Nicolas Cage stars as a city punk who falls in love with a valley girl (Deborah Foreman).
Loved
Young Nic Cage!!!
Liked
Charming dialog. Likable leads. Good use of high school themes.
Disliked
Weird subplot resolutions.
Thoughts
Cute flick. Probably more enjoyable for those familiar with 1980's, Los Angeles/valley scene.
First thing that stood out was how adorable Cage was as the romantic lead. His likability shined regardless of his "threatening" appearance. It was not intended, but I couldn't help but giggle every time he appeared onscreen. Not surprisingly, he over-acted a bit.
I'm guessing people who grew up in the San Fernando Valley or the 1980's New Wave music scene will get hit with instant nostalgia. I felt like it did a great job of capturing that time and place, especially with that distinctly funny dialect (surprisingly never got tired of it), various valley "landmarks", and of course, music.
While the story is typical "lovers from opposite side of the tracks" kind, the film did a good job of making the characters charming, and highlighting teenage themes with good execution. I enjoyed the themes of high school popularity, cliques, embarrassment, and tying memories to a song.
Other amusing things: they used overly-liberal hippie parents to flip the token "parents just don't understand" thing upside-down, the outdated song "Johnny are you Queer", no Frank Zappa, and the surprising amount of boobs.
The absence of Zappa's classic wasn't the only flaw. I couldn't tell the female lead apart from her valley girl posse at the beginning, her internal conflict (love vs. popularity) wasn't sold well enough, and his douche bag ex was too obvious. The movie also kind of flew off the rails with bizarre subplots involving a Mrs. Robinson-like character, and the ex-boyfriend blackmailing scheme. Their resolutions were even more head-scratching.
For the most part, Valley Girl benefited from its dated feel. It captured a time, place, music, and speech believably and entertainingly. I very much relished seeing young Nic Cage, and enjoyed the teen angst themes borrowed from The Graduate, Romeo and Juliet, and Carrie.
2012
Formats
HDTV
Premise
Nicolas Cage stars as a city punk who falls in love with a valley girl (Deborah Foreman).
Loved
Young Nic Cage!!!
Liked
Charming dialog. Likable leads. Good use of high school themes.
Disliked
Weird subplot resolutions.
Thoughts
Cute flick. Probably more enjoyable for those familiar with 1980's, Los Angeles/valley scene.
First thing that stood out was how adorable Cage was as the romantic lead. His likability shined regardless of his "threatening" appearance. It was not intended, but I couldn't help but giggle every time he appeared onscreen. Not surprisingly, he over-acted a bit.
I'm guessing people who grew up in the San Fernando Valley or the 1980's New Wave music scene will get hit with instant nostalgia. I felt like it did a great job of capturing that time and place, especially with that distinctly funny dialect (surprisingly never got tired of it), various valley "landmarks", and of course, music.
While the story is typical "lovers from opposite side of the tracks" kind, the film did a good job of making the characters charming, and highlighting teenage themes with good execution. I enjoyed the themes of high school popularity, cliques, embarrassment, and tying memories to a song.
Other amusing things: they used overly-liberal hippie parents to flip the token "parents just don't understand" thing upside-down, the outdated song "Johnny are you Queer", no Frank Zappa, and the surprising amount of boobs.
The absence of Zappa's classic wasn't the only flaw. I couldn't tell the female lead apart from her valley girl posse at the beginning, her internal conflict (love vs. popularity) wasn't sold well enough, and his douche bag ex was too obvious. The movie also kind of flew off the rails with bizarre subplots involving a Mrs. Robinson-like character, and the ex-boyfriend blackmailing scheme. Their resolutions were even more head-scratching.
For the most part, Valley Girl benefited from its dated feel. It captured a time, place, music, and speech believably and entertainingly. I very much relished seeing young Nic Cage, and enjoyed the teen angst themes borrowed from The Graduate, Romeo and Juliet, and Carrie.
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