Viewed in
2010
Premise
The genius of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is witnessed through the jealous eyes of his colleague and rival, Antonio Salieri.
Loved
Beautiful classical music, fantastic acting, the "Requiem" scene.
Thoughts
A fantastic musical and cinematic experience.
I am probably an average fan of classical music. Yet I loved every song in this film. This film gave me a deeper appreciation for the intricate depth and layers in Mozart's works. I wanted to pump up the volume, just to soak every note and chord. In addition, I have never heard Mozart with vocals, so the operas were quite interesting. Imagine how much more vibrant and engrossing for my ears had I been watching this in a 5.1 sound system.
Though I was a little sad to discover that the plot was too good to be true, it was really, really good. To see Mozart through a mortal's eye was ingenious and an excellent method to care for Mozart's character. After all, most of us cannot relate to such a genius. In addition, I was able to empathize with Salieri, who was technically the antagonist.
The acting was as wonderful as the music, especially F. Murray Abraham and Tom Hulce as Salieri and Mozart, respectively. Abraham owned his character, masterfully showing us the joy of listening to artistic greatness, and at the same time being eaten alive by his own mediocrity. Hulce, on the other hand, got the flashy job of being a rebellious, crude, and child-like genius. And that laugh! Oh, so delightful.
This film was before his time, but Hulce's performance actually reminded me of Michael Jackson. Both were former child prodigies deprived of normal childhoods, thus had a distorted child-like need as adults.
My favorite scene was Salieri attempting to dictate "Requiem" while Mozart was bed-ridden, gravely ill. Music, story, acting, and director Milos Forman's execution converged to create greatness. I loved how easily the genius flowed from Mozart, how Salieri set aside his internal conflicts for the sake of art. Plot-wise, Mozart had to explain each each section, piece by piece for Salieri to understand, but at the same time, the film exposes to the audience the inner workings of a masterpiece. As the pieces of the puzzle assembled, a cinematic crescendo rose like a tidal wave of movie magic. Sometimes words cannot accurate describe the joy of basking in great art. Such is one example.
The movie length of two hours and forty minutes was intimidating, but the time needed for the audience to listen and appreciate the music as well as Abraham and Hulce's performances. I would have preferred less scenes in the madhouse, Salieri narrating the story, but it really was a joy to see Abraham's acting, as his character indulged in his memories of Mozart's music.
My only complaint was camera technique. My cinematography knowledge is lacking, but I assumed they used wide lenses. In any case, there were numerous scenes, in which images on the sides were distractingly distorted. Not sure if it was the camera's fault or the lenses' fault.
As a movie and music lover, I adored this film, and it deserved its accolades. It will forever belong in my pantheon of memorable and re-watchable films.
What I would change
Nothing.
Showing posts with label 1984. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 1984. Show all posts
Beverly Hills Cop
Viewed in
2007
Premise
Eddie Murphy is a fast-talking, wise-cracking Detroit cop who comes to Beverly Hills to investigate a friend's death.
Who should watch
Eddie Murphy fans.
Thoughts
It was an okay movie. I guess it was his star power that made it such a hit that spawned sequels.
The middle section was the best part, in which Eddie Murphy goofed around and made comedic things happen. Unlike wimpy PG-13 movies these days, this movie did not try to rein in Eddie Murphy's foul-mouth style. The supporting cast was quite funny, especially Judge Reinhold, Paul Reiser and Bronson Pinchot. Lastly, I loved the theme song.
The problem with the movie (other than the inane, implausible plot) was that Eddie Murphy was not believable as an action star. All the action scenes were pretty lame and boring.
What I would change
Got rid of that annoying laugh.
2007
Premise
Eddie Murphy is a fast-talking, wise-cracking Detroit cop who comes to Beverly Hills to investigate a friend's death.
Who should watch
Eddie Murphy fans.
Thoughts
It was an okay movie. I guess it was his star power that made it such a hit that spawned sequels.
The middle section was the best part, in which Eddie Murphy goofed around and made comedic things happen. Unlike wimpy PG-13 movies these days, this movie did not try to rein in Eddie Murphy's foul-mouth style. The supporting cast was quite funny, especially Judge Reinhold, Paul Reiser and Bronson Pinchot. Lastly, I loved the theme song.
The problem with the movie (other than the inane, implausible plot) was that Eddie Murphy was not believable as an action star. All the action scenes were pretty lame and boring.
What I would change
Got rid of that annoying laugh.
Footloose
Viewed in
2012
Formats
HDTV
Premise
Kevin Bacon stars as a teenager transplanted to a small midwestern town so uptight that dancing is outlawed.
Loved
Music and choreography.
Disliked
Lack of dancing.
Hated
Nonsensical plot.
Thoughts
I was underwhelmed by this "classic".
There was a great collection of memorable (and annoying) 1980's pop music. I also enjoyed the fun (and still cool) dancing, and wished there was more. Bacon was likable as the lead, but John Lithgow shined as the town's preacher and old-fashioned moral compass. I was amused to find a young, brunette Sarah Jessica Parker in the pack.
Aside from needing more dancing, the story could've been better. I found it hard to take the writing seriously with the ridiculous premise. The subplot with the jealous ex-boyfriend was handled awkwardly. And Lithgow's arc was pretty odd.
Having said that, it was refreshing to see a working single mother who can actually hold a normal conversation with her teenage child, instead of a shouting windbag who "just doesn't get it".
If you plan to watch the original Footloose for the song and dance, I suggest just looking for those scenes online and skip the movie. Normally, I am dubious about remakes, but I could see a legit reason to redo this title.
2012
Formats
HDTV
Premise
Kevin Bacon stars as a teenager transplanted to a small midwestern town so uptight that dancing is outlawed.
Loved
Music and choreography.
Disliked
Lack of dancing.
Hated
Nonsensical plot.
Thoughts
I was underwhelmed by this "classic".
There was a great collection of memorable (and annoying) 1980's pop music. I also enjoyed the fun (and still cool) dancing, and wished there was more. Bacon was likable as the lead, but John Lithgow shined as the town's preacher and old-fashioned moral compass. I was amused to find a young, brunette Sarah Jessica Parker in the pack.
Aside from needing more dancing, the story could've been better. I found it hard to take the writing seriously with the ridiculous premise. The subplot with the jealous ex-boyfriend was handled awkwardly. And Lithgow's arc was pretty odd.
Having said that, it was refreshing to see a working single mother who can actually hold a normal conversation with her teenage child, instead of a shouting windbag who "just doesn't get it".
If you plan to watch the original Footloose for the song and dance, I suggest just looking for those scenes online and skip the movie. Normally, I am dubious about remakes, but I could see a legit reason to redo this title.
Ghost Busters
Viewed in
1998
Formats
VHS
Premise
Bill Murray leads a team specializing in ghost removal in New York.
Thoughts
It's been a long time, but I recall it being funny, mainly thanks to Murray's comedic delivery and demeanor. It was a pretty star-studded cast, including Dan Aykroyd and Sigourney Weaver. Special effects were so-so. Last but not least, the theme song rocked!
What I would change
No idea.
1998
Formats
VHS
Premise
Bill Murray leads a team specializing in ghost removal in New York.
Thoughts
It's been a long time, but I recall it being funny, mainly thanks to Murray's comedic delivery and demeanor. It was a pretty star-studded cast, including Dan Aykroyd and Sigourney Weaver. Special effects were so-so. Last but not least, the theme song rocked!
What I would change
No idea.
Gremlins
Viewed in
2011
Formats
DVD
Premise
A boy inadvertently breaks 3 important rules concerning his new pet and unleashes a horde of malevolently mischievous monsters on a small town.
Loved
Mogwai!
Liked
The creative puppetry.
Disliked
That I'm not sure which age group this was supposed to entertain.
Thoughts
I can see what made it so appealing and memorable.
First and foremost: Mogwai. Chinese for "strange cat", this cuddly creature was super adorable with its giant eyes, cooing, and occasional singing. I'm not a pet person, but now I want one.
The gremlins on the other hand, were pretty cool too. They were bufugly, but their chaotic antics grew on me. This was definitely one of the earliest films I've ever seen that used pop culture references as comedy gags.
Obviously these critters wouldn't have worked without some impressive puppetry and animatronics to sell the illusion and, more importantly, make these characters perform their charm onscreen.
The cast had some of the 1980's biggest hitters, including pre-Goonies Corey Feldman and Judge Reinhold. I was disappointed they did not take advantage of Phoebe Cates' babe-factor, bundling her up in winter coats. Though I guess bikinis would be inappropriate here.
In addition, the film boasted some voice over legends, including Peter Cullen, Frank Walker, and Howie Mandel? Equally interesting was a cameo by animation godfather Chuck Jones and appearance by an unknown Tom Bergeron.
Gremlins was one of those films in which its outdated parts added to the charm. I couldn't help but giggle at human characters acted like idiots, when the first casualty was black, and the racial insensitivity of mystical Chinese characters. Best plot hole was when the mischievous little buggers suddenly equipped themselves with gremlin-sized guns and crossbows out of thin air. Worst plot hole was that the Peltzers were Jewish but celebrate Christmas.
While I personally had fun watching it, in the back of my mind, I wasn't sure which kind of kid this would appeal to. Younger ones might get nightmares from the gremlins, and older ones might be repelled by Mogwai's cuteness. Then the tone went way out of character with the gory kitchen scene, though the mom was pretty badass.
Despite its outdatedness and watching it more than a quarter century after it came out, I still enjoyed this charming 80's flick.
What I would change
Made the kitchen scene less gruesome.
2011
Formats
DVD
Premise
A boy inadvertently breaks 3 important rules concerning his new pet and unleashes a horde of malevolently mischievous monsters on a small town.
Loved
Mogwai!
Liked
The creative puppetry.
Disliked
That I'm not sure which age group this was supposed to entertain.
Thoughts
I can see what made it so appealing and memorable.
First and foremost: Mogwai. Chinese for "strange cat", this cuddly creature was super adorable with its giant eyes, cooing, and occasional singing. I'm not a pet person, but now I want one.
The gremlins on the other hand, were pretty cool too. They were bufugly, but their chaotic antics grew on me. This was definitely one of the earliest films I've ever seen that used pop culture references as comedy gags.
Obviously these critters wouldn't have worked without some impressive puppetry and animatronics to sell the illusion and, more importantly, make these characters perform their charm onscreen.
The cast had some of the 1980's biggest hitters, including pre-Goonies Corey Feldman and Judge Reinhold. I was disappointed they did not take advantage of Phoebe Cates' babe-factor, bundling her up in winter coats. Though I guess bikinis would be inappropriate here.
In addition, the film boasted some voice over legends, including Peter Cullen, Frank Walker, and Howie Mandel? Equally interesting was a cameo by animation godfather Chuck Jones and appearance by an unknown Tom Bergeron.
Gremlins was one of those films in which its outdated parts added to the charm. I couldn't help but giggle at human characters acted like idiots, when the first casualty was black, and the racial insensitivity of mystical Chinese characters. Best plot hole was when the mischievous little buggers suddenly equipped themselves with gremlin-sized guns and crossbows out of thin air. Worst plot hole was that the Peltzers were Jewish but celebrate Christmas.
While I personally had fun watching it, in the back of my mind, I wasn't sure which kind of kid this would appeal to. Younger ones might get nightmares from the gremlins, and older ones might be repelled by Mogwai's cuteness. Then the tone went way out of character with the gory kitchen scene, though the mom was pretty badass.
Despite its outdatedness and watching it more than a quarter century after it came out, I still enjoyed this charming 80's flick.
What I would change
Made the kitchen scene less gruesome.
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
Viewed in
2004
Premise
Indy saves some child slaves.
Who should watch
No one.
Thoughts
This movie never happened. I have repressed any memory of the nonsensical plot, the annoying boy sidekick, and the gory extraction of a beating heart from a live sacrifice.
On a historical note, this movie was credited for forcing the MPAA to add PG-13 to the list of ratings.
What I would change
Nothing because it never happened.
2004
Premise
Indy saves some child slaves.
Who should watch
No one.
Thoughts
This movie never happened. I have repressed any memory of the nonsensical plot, the annoying boy sidekick, and the gory extraction of a beating heart from a live sacrifice.
On a historical note, this movie was credited for forcing the MPAA to add PG-13 to the list of ratings.
What I would change
Nothing because it never happened.
Karate Kid
Viewed in
2009
Premise
Mr. Miyagi teaches Daniel-san how to wax on, wax off. Just kidding. A teenage boy, bullied by the Cobra Kai gang, learns karate the right way from his handyman neighbor.
Who should watch
Those who like underdog sports movies.
Thoughts
After nearly two decades of "You still haven't seen 'Karate Kid'?!" from friends and strangers, I finally watched it, and was not disappointed.
The best part was its charming cast and characters. Ralph Macchio was perfectly wimpy, yet lovable. Elizabeth Shue was a babe (funny how little did I know about just how important she was in the 1980's). The Cobra Kai's were as despicable as Bill Simmons hyped them up to be. Lastly, there was the late, great Pat Morita's performance, whose broken English actually reminded me more of a Yoda-ripoff than Asian stereotype. I was surprised that the dynamics between the characters were genuine, instead of 1980's cheesy.
Music in the film was typical 1980's, as it blared a pop artist song at every possible moment. While it was annoying, it added to the charm, along with the outdated clothes.
I would say the weakest part was the formulaic plot; it was basically a teenage version of 'Rocky'. In fact, they even borrowed Bill Conti to do the score. Despite the overall story being typical, there were actually lots of cool, memorable, and insightful scenes (sprinkled with a few unintentionally funny moments).
This definitely belongs in the pantheon of great sports movies, though it is far behind the one and only 'Rocky'.
Obviously, it has been a shame that I never watched this classic until now. I was impressed that I still enjoyed it after all that hype. Now, I can finally put all the famous lines/moments in context, such as 'Wax on, wax off', Joe Esposito's 'You're the Best', and 'Put him in a body bag, YEEEEEEAAAAAAAHHH!'. Most likely, had I watched it as a kid, I would have loved it.
I consider this a quintessential film of the 1980's, thanks its charm and quality. Some films you know instantly are infinitely re-watchable, and this is one.
What I would change
Nothing.
Random
In credits, they thank DC Comics for the use of the name, 'Karate Kid'. According to IMDB.com, it was because there was a superhero by that name, and they needed the permission. For a while, I thought it was because it was based off a comic book.
2009
Premise
Mr. Miyagi teaches Daniel-san how to wax on, wax off. Just kidding. A teenage boy, bullied by the Cobra Kai gang, learns karate the right way from his handyman neighbor.
Who should watch
Those who like underdog sports movies.
Thoughts
After nearly two decades of "You still haven't seen 'Karate Kid'?!" from friends and strangers, I finally watched it, and was not disappointed.
The best part was its charming cast and characters. Ralph Macchio was perfectly wimpy, yet lovable. Elizabeth Shue was a babe (funny how little did I know about just how important she was in the 1980's). The Cobra Kai's were as despicable as Bill Simmons hyped them up to be. Lastly, there was the late, great Pat Morita's performance, whose broken English actually reminded me more of a Yoda-ripoff than Asian stereotype. I was surprised that the dynamics between the characters were genuine, instead of 1980's cheesy.
Music in the film was typical 1980's, as it blared a pop artist song at every possible moment. While it was annoying, it added to the charm, along with the outdated clothes.
I would say the weakest part was the formulaic plot; it was basically a teenage version of 'Rocky'. In fact, they even borrowed Bill Conti to do the score. Despite the overall story being typical, there were actually lots of cool, memorable, and insightful scenes (sprinkled with a few unintentionally funny moments).
This definitely belongs in the pantheon of great sports movies, though it is far behind the one and only 'Rocky'.
Obviously, it has been a shame that I never watched this classic until now. I was impressed that I still enjoyed it after all that hype. Now, I can finally put all the famous lines/moments in context, such as 'Wax on, wax off', Joe Esposito's 'You're the Best', and 'Put him in a body bag, YEEEEEEAAAAAAAHHH!'. Most likely, had I watched it as a kid, I would have loved it.
I consider this a quintessential film of the 1980's, thanks its charm and quality. Some films you know instantly are infinitely re-watchable, and this is one.
What I would change
Nothing.
Random
In credits, they thank DC Comics for the use of the name, 'Karate Kid'. According to IMDB.com, it was because there was a superhero by that name, and they needed the permission. For a while, I thought it was because it was based off a comic book.
Muppets Take Manhattan
Viewed in
1988, 2007
Premise
Muppets want to make a Broadway musical.
Who should watch
Muppets fans.
Thoughts
As an adult, I found it cute, entertaining, and full of interesting cameos, including some Sesame Street characters. It was somewhat disturbing to realize that the sweet voice of Miss Piggy in 'He'll Make Me Happy' was sung by Yoda.
The music number with all the Muppets as babies was paralyzingly cute.
What I would change
Nothing.
1988, 2007
Premise
Muppets want to make a Broadway musical.
Who should watch
Muppets fans.
Thoughts
As an adult, I found it cute, entertaining, and full of interesting cameos, including some Sesame Street characters. It was somewhat disturbing to realize that the sweet voice of Miss Piggy in 'He'll Make Me Happy' was sung by Yoda.
The music number with all the Muppets as babies was paralyzingly cute.
What I would change
Nothing.
Natural, The
Viewed in
2010
Premise
Robert Redford stars as Roy Hobbs, a baseball player given a second chance 16 years after his first try.
Liked
Interesting story, the cast.
Disliked
Unrealistic baseball moments.
Thoughts
An intriguing story that made it more than just a baseball movie.
At first, I was nearly lulled to sleep by the typical-ness of the first fifteen minutes. Roy Hobbs was just a talented player with a great heart. Plus, I was confused why a 20 year old kid was played by a wrinkled Redford. Then the twist occurred, and that's when the film got my attention. I was drawn into a redemptive tale of a man versus overpowering, stacked odds conspiring against his baseball dreams. Even the subplot of meeting his hometown sweetheart was handled with complexity and unspoken words. It never veered into chick-flick-ville, and (for the first time in a sports movie) made me want more scenes of them together.
Redford was great as usual, he was immediately likable and easy to root for. But the whole cast was pretty darn cool. I had only known Wilford Brimley for his comedy hijinks on Colbert Report, so I was surprised by his effective performance as the bitter, worn-down coach. Another surprise was Robert Duvall as a sleazy reporter. Then there was Barbara Hershey in a small role, Kim Basinger as the femme fatale, and Glenn Close as the hometown sweetheart. Close's casting was amusing, because three years later when would be the femme fatale in Fatal Attraction.
The rest of the execution was pretty well-done. Director Barry Levinson made sure nothing was rushed or forced. My favorite scene was when Hobbs took batting practice for the first time, especially how it used sound. Just the crack of the bat, and the distant thud of the ball hitting the empty seats, echoing into the night. Just perfect execution. And when score was needed, Randy Newman's fit the moment.
As much as I liked the film, I had trouble loving it because it lacked sports reality. Sure, it's cooler to shatter stuff when you hit a home run or have mythical weather during important moments. However, it was unnecessary. The film already won me over with its plot and premise, but to have plausible, but over-the-top baseball feats was just distracting. The characters were grounded in realism, why couldn't the baseball be the same?
Another issue was that Hobbs' secret revelation about his past was not explained well-enough for me to understand. Clearly, the film makers intended for me know know what happened, but I had to check Wikipedia to get a better idea. Also, the film's pacing lost a little momentum a bit after halfway. Since I watched the Director's Cut, I would bet that was where the additional scenes were inserted (I did not verify this).
This was a very good film, thanks mainly to it cool premise, interesting characters, and strong acting. I just wished the film makers did not try so hard to make everything "perfect".
What I would change
Fixed some continuity issues, such as Redford wearing a ring when his character never married.
Random
There were some interesting "six degrees" aspects. An unrecognizable Michael Madsen was a player. So was Danny Aiello III, son of, well, you can guess. Lastly, the cinematographer, Caleb Deschanel, who not only did a wonderful job, but his last name should ring a bell to folks of my generation.
2010
Premise
Robert Redford stars as Roy Hobbs, a baseball player given a second chance 16 years after his first try.
Liked
Interesting story, the cast.
Disliked
Unrealistic baseball moments.
Thoughts
An intriguing story that made it more than just a baseball movie.
At first, I was nearly lulled to sleep by the typical-ness of the first fifteen minutes. Roy Hobbs was just a talented player with a great heart. Plus, I was confused why a 20 year old kid was played by a wrinkled Redford. Then the twist occurred, and that's when the film got my attention. I was drawn into a redemptive tale of a man versus overpowering, stacked odds conspiring against his baseball dreams. Even the subplot of meeting his hometown sweetheart was handled with complexity and unspoken words. It never veered into chick-flick-ville, and (for the first time in a sports movie) made me want more scenes of them together.
Redford was great as usual, he was immediately likable and easy to root for. But the whole cast was pretty darn cool. I had only known Wilford Brimley for his comedy hijinks on Colbert Report, so I was surprised by his effective performance as the bitter, worn-down coach. Another surprise was Robert Duvall as a sleazy reporter. Then there was Barbara Hershey in a small role, Kim Basinger as the femme fatale, and Glenn Close as the hometown sweetheart. Close's casting was amusing, because three years later when would be the femme fatale in Fatal Attraction.
The rest of the execution was pretty well-done. Director Barry Levinson made sure nothing was rushed or forced. My favorite scene was when Hobbs took batting practice for the first time, especially how it used sound. Just the crack of the bat, and the distant thud of the ball hitting the empty seats, echoing into the night. Just perfect execution. And when score was needed, Randy Newman's fit the moment.
As much as I liked the film, I had trouble loving it because it lacked sports reality. Sure, it's cooler to shatter stuff when you hit a home run or have mythical weather during important moments. However, it was unnecessary. The film already won me over with its plot and premise, but to have plausible, but over-the-top baseball feats was just distracting. The characters were grounded in realism, why couldn't the baseball be the same?
Another issue was that Hobbs' secret revelation about his past was not explained well-enough for me to understand. Clearly, the film makers intended for me know know what happened, but I had to check Wikipedia to get a better idea. Also, the film's pacing lost a little momentum a bit after halfway. Since I watched the Director's Cut, I would bet that was where the additional scenes were inserted (I did not verify this).
This was a very good film, thanks mainly to it cool premise, interesting characters, and strong acting. I just wished the film makers did not try so hard to make everything "perfect".
What I would change
Fixed some continuity issues, such as Redford wearing a ring when his character never married.
Random
There were some interesting "six degrees" aspects. An unrecognizable Michael Madsen was a player. So was Danny Aiello III, son of, well, you can guess. Lastly, the cinematographer, Caleb Deschanel, who not only did a wonderful job, but his last name should ring a bell to folks of my generation.
Nausicaa
Viewed in
2006
Premise
A princess befriends a misunderstood tribe to defeat a monster.
Who should watch
Hayao Miyazaki fans.
Thoughts
Just another classic. I loved multiple layers of themes, especially the ecological ones. A Miyazaki staple and anime rarity was female main character who is depicted in a positive and realistic way. Girl power!
The only flaw was the pace was one of his slowest films. An unexpected drawback was the realization that one of my favorites, 'Princess Mononoke', was completely derived from 'Nausicaa'.
What I would change
Nothing.
2006
Premise
A princess befriends a misunderstood tribe to defeat a monster.
Who should watch
Hayao Miyazaki fans.
Thoughts
Just another classic. I loved multiple layers of themes, especially the ecological ones. A Miyazaki staple and anime rarity was female main character who is depicted in a positive and realistic way. Girl power!
The only flaw was the pace was one of his slowest films. An unexpected drawback was the realization that one of my favorites, 'Princess Mononoke', was completely derived from 'Nausicaa'.
What I would change
Nothing.
NeverEnding Story, The
Viewed in
2010
Formats
Netflix HD streaming (Xbox 360)
Premise
A young American boy escapes bullies by hiding in a mysterious fantasy adventure book.
Loved
The imaginative creations, the amazing animatronics.
Thoughts
A classic that still holds up.
Sadly, I never saw it as a kid, but I think I would have enjoyed it very much, if I wasn't freaked out by the fantastical creatures. With elaborate sets, decent blue-screen technology, Godzilla-like camera tricks, and animatronics/puppetry that rivaled Jim Henson's works, the film wowed me with some whimsical settings and inhabitants. I liked how each character had a twist of some sort, instead of stock elves, dwarfs and dragons. Coolest character was the doggie-dragon, Falkor, who was adorable and impressive in scale.
The story was pretty good. There were charming characters left and right, and had the right amount of scariness to give it a sense of danger.
Having said that, there were two issues that I noticed as an adult. First was that the twist in the plot was pretty obvious early on. Second was that while it was a fun journey, I had my doubts about the film's message. I am not saying all kid movies need to teach morals, but I seriously doubt the validity in resolving bullies by dreaming.
With excellent special effects and creativity, Wolfgang Peterson crafted a memorable family-friendly adventure full of interesting critters and diverse landscapes that should tickle a child's imagination.
What I would change
Nothing.
Random
Well, now I know where the band, Atreyu, got their name from. Also, I cannot believe it was the same Deep Roy (Oompa Loompas [Tim Burton version]) as the Mad Hatter-looking Teeny Weeny.
2010
Formats
Netflix HD streaming (Xbox 360)
Premise
A young American boy escapes bullies by hiding in a mysterious fantasy adventure book.
Loved
The imaginative creations, the amazing animatronics.
Thoughts
A classic that still holds up.
Sadly, I never saw it as a kid, but I think I would have enjoyed it very much, if I wasn't freaked out by the fantastical creatures. With elaborate sets, decent blue-screen technology, Godzilla-like camera tricks, and animatronics/puppetry that rivaled Jim Henson's works, the film wowed me with some whimsical settings and inhabitants. I liked how each character had a twist of some sort, instead of stock elves, dwarfs and dragons. Coolest character was the doggie-dragon, Falkor, who was adorable and impressive in scale.
The story was pretty good. There were charming characters left and right, and had the right amount of scariness to give it a sense of danger.
Having said that, there were two issues that I noticed as an adult. First was that the twist in the plot was pretty obvious early on. Second was that while it was a fun journey, I had my doubts about the film's message. I am not saying all kid movies need to teach morals, but I seriously doubt the validity in resolving bullies by dreaming.
With excellent special effects and creativity, Wolfgang Peterson crafted a memorable family-friendly adventure full of interesting critters and diverse landscapes that should tickle a child's imagination.
What I would change
Nothing.
Random
Well, now I know where the band, Atreyu, got their name from. Also, I cannot believe it was the same Deep Roy (Oompa Loompas [Tim Burton version]) as the Mad Hatter-looking Teeny Weeny.
A Nightmare on Elm Street
Viewed in
2010
Formats
Netflix HD streaming (Xbox 360)
Premise
The original Fred Krueger film that launched a franchise, in which a knife-fingered killer can murder teens in their dreams.
Liked
The horror concept.
Disliked
The last act.
Thoughts
Finally saw it, and for the most part, did not disappoint.
I really liked Wes Craven's idea of a dreams that kill, as well as the character design of Krueger. There were some moments that were killer cool or creatively bloody. Other times, it did suffer from low quality special effects. Craven's theme song was not as great as Halloween, but still catchy.
For a long time, I knew the great Johnny Depp started his career here, and his death was bloody fun. I did not realize was that John Cusack's ex-girlfriend from Better Off Dead was in the cast. My inner twelve year-old boy liked that Heather Langenkamp's breasts seemed to get bigger in the each following scene.
The most glaring plot hole was in the third act, when Nancy somehow managed to set up two-thousand booby traps, have a heart-to-heart with her mommy, and fall into R.E.M. in twenty minutes. As for the multiple false endings, it was cheesy and silly, but I guess forgivable in low-budget teen-slasher flick.
Despite the hyped up cult status, the blood-fueled escapism still held up reasonably well.
What I would change
Even though I did not like the third act, I do not know how I would improve upon it.
2010
Formats
Netflix HD streaming (Xbox 360)
Premise
The original Fred Krueger film that launched a franchise, in which a knife-fingered killer can murder teens in their dreams.
Liked
The horror concept.
Disliked
The last act.
Thoughts
Finally saw it, and for the most part, did not disappoint.
I really liked Wes Craven's idea of a dreams that kill, as well as the character design of Krueger. There were some moments that were killer cool or creatively bloody. Other times, it did suffer from low quality special effects. Craven's theme song was not as great as Halloween, but still catchy.
For a long time, I knew the great Johnny Depp started his career here, and his death was bloody fun. I did not realize was that John Cusack's ex-girlfriend from Better Off Dead was in the cast. My inner twelve year-old boy liked that Heather Langenkamp's breasts seemed to get bigger in the each following scene.
The most glaring plot hole was in the third act, when Nancy somehow managed to set up two-thousand booby traps, have a heart-to-heart with her mommy, and fall into R.E.M. in twenty minutes. As for the multiple false endings, it was cheesy and silly, but I guess forgivable in low-budget teen-slasher flick.
Despite the hyped up cult status, the blood-fueled escapism still held up reasonably well.
What I would change
Even though I did not like the third act, I do not know how I would improve upon it.
Red Dawn
Viewed in
2011
Formats
HDTV
Premise
Patrick Swayze leads his high school classmates to combat an invading horde of commies in his middle-America town.
Loved
Unintentional comedy.
Liked
Cast and opening scene.
Thoughts
Definitely a great bad 1980's movie.
It had an awesome cast. Flanking Swayze was Jennifer Grey, Charlie Sheen, Lea Thompson, Lane Smith, and for 24 fans, Powers Boothe. There were two cool scenes: the memorable opening scene of paratroopers dropping in and invading a small town school and the showdown between helicopters and students on horseback.
After that, the rest of the entertainment was derived from its treasure-trove of unintentional comedy. It was full of ridiculous plot lines, lame dialog, and horrendous over-acting. The movie was hilarious incredulous, such as trying to convince the audience that the the thirty-plus year old Swayze was a high schooler, Russians and Cubans apparating heavily armored tanks into Colorado, and students suddenly learning how to wage guerrilla warfare on commie soldiers. Add along the outdated phones, computers and radio, and it delivered laughs in spades.
Watching it now, Red Dawn was comedy gold.
2011
Formats
HDTV
Premise
Patrick Swayze leads his high school classmates to combat an invading horde of commies in his middle-America town.
Loved
Unintentional comedy.
Liked
Cast and opening scene.
Thoughts
Definitely a great bad 1980's movie.
It had an awesome cast. Flanking Swayze was Jennifer Grey, Charlie Sheen, Lea Thompson, Lane Smith, and for 24 fans, Powers Boothe. There were two cool scenes: the memorable opening scene of paratroopers dropping in and invading a small town school and the showdown between helicopters and students on horseback.
After that, the rest of the entertainment was derived from its treasure-trove of unintentional comedy. It was full of ridiculous plot lines, lame dialog, and horrendous over-acting. The movie was hilarious incredulous, such as trying to convince the audience that the the thirty-plus year old Swayze was a high schooler, Russians and Cubans apparating heavily armored tanks into Colorado, and students suddenly learning how to wage guerrilla warfare on commie soldiers. Add along the outdated phones, computers and radio, and it delivered laughs in spades.
Watching it now, Red Dawn was comedy gold.
Revenge of the Nerds
Viewed in
2010
Formats
HD TV
Premise
A comedy about a bunch of outcasts create a fraternity to combat the jock/bully fraternity at the local college.
Liked
James Cromwell as a nerdy father.
Disliked
The incredibly lame stereotypes, the lack of nerdy stuff.
Hated
The talent show nerd song.
Thoughts
Meh.
It was sometimes funny, with a few nerd-based gags, but mostly Animal House/Porky's shenanigans like party-crashing and frontal nudity. My favorite cast members were Anthony Edwards as one of the lead nerds, Curtis Armstrong (Better Off Dead and Eek! The Cat), a skinny John Goodman as the jock football coach, and venerable James Cromwell as a nerdy father.
Part of me felt duped by the title, probably because "nerd" is a more specific term these days. Here, it was more about outcasts taking on the jocks. These stereotypes included gays, blacks, immigrants, and potheads, who were painted with such broad strokes, it was laughably bad. And do not get me started on the heinously horrid song from the talent show.
Its frat humor paled when compared to Animal House, and was devoid of nerdy humor that I was hoping for. I got some giggles out of it, but not much else.
What I would change
Not sure.
2010
Formats
HD TV
Premise
A comedy about a bunch of outcasts create a fraternity to combat the jock/bully fraternity at the local college.
Liked
James Cromwell as a nerdy father.
Disliked
The incredibly lame stereotypes, the lack of nerdy stuff.
Hated
The talent show nerd song.
Thoughts
Meh.
It was sometimes funny, with a few nerd-based gags, but mostly Animal House/Porky's shenanigans like party-crashing and frontal nudity. My favorite cast members were Anthony Edwards as one of the lead nerds, Curtis Armstrong (Better Off Dead and Eek! The Cat), a skinny John Goodman as the jock football coach, and venerable James Cromwell as a nerdy father.
Part of me felt duped by the title, probably because "nerd" is a more specific term these days. Here, it was more about outcasts taking on the jocks. These stereotypes included gays, blacks, immigrants, and potheads, who were painted with such broad strokes, it was laughably bad. And do not get me started on the heinously horrid song from the talent show.
Its frat humor paled when compared to Animal House, and was devoid of nerdy humor that I was hoping for. I got some giggles out of it, but not much else.
What I would change
Not sure.
Romancing the Stone
Viewed in
2012
Formats
HDTV
Premise
Kathleen Turner plays an American romance novelist who finds herself in Colombia to save her kidnapped sister, where she teams up with a low-life (Michael Douglas).
Liked
Charming cast, cute silliness.
Thoughts
Goofy but entertaining.
I had only known Kathleen Turner for her steamy performance in Body Heat, so I was pleasantly surprised by her comedy chops here. She was very funny and likable as the fish out of water American in the Colombian jungle, though the movie never hesitated to show of her assets. Michael Douglas was also very likable, and frankly, very handsome while rocking the 1980's mane of hair. They made a cute couple.
At times, the slapstick was eye-rolling-ly dumb, but the cast sold it well enough to illicit chuckles with the occasional laugh out loud's. Turner got the biggest laughs from me, once from trying to steer a car that's been washed away in a river, and another time attempting to fight a bad guy a la her novels.
Like I said, the whole thing was rather stupid, with unrealistic coincidences, bumbling bad guys, borderline racial stereotypes, confusing complications, and predictable romantic-comedy schtick. But, all of the silliness came off as earnest, so after awhile, I didn't mind tagging along for the ride.
As a light-hearted action-comedy-romance, it worked. It's full of charm and void of cynicism. If you needed something on in the background on TV, Romancing the Stone would fit the bill.
Personal
Having some experience in film-making, I can't imagine how miserable the shooting experience was. Logistically, we're talking about mountains, rain forests, rapids, mud, rain, all sorts of animals including crocodiles, guns, and vehicle stunts. Mad props to people with the patience to deal with that stuff for weeks.
2012
Formats
HDTV
Premise
Kathleen Turner plays an American romance novelist who finds herself in Colombia to save her kidnapped sister, where she teams up with a low-life (Michael Douglas).
Liked
Charming cast, cute silliness.
Thoughts
Goofy but entertaining.
I had only known Kathleen Turner for her steamy performance in Body Heat, so I was pleasantly surprised by her comedy chops here. She was very funny and likable as the fish out of water American in the Colombian jungle, though the movie never hesitated to show of her assets. Michael Douglas was also very likable, and frankly, very handsome while rocking the 1980's mane of hair. They made a cute couple.
At times, the slapstick was eye-rolling-ly dumb, but the cast sold it well enough to illicit chuckles with the occasional laugh out loud's. Turner got the biggest laughs from me, once from trying to steer a car that's been washed away in a river, and another time attempting to fight a bad guy a la her novels.
Like I said, the whole thing was rather stupid, with unrealistic coincidences, bumbling bad guys, borderline racial stereotypes, confusing complications, and predictable romantic-comedy schtick. But, all of the silliness came off as earnest, so after awhile, I didn't mind tagging along for the ride.
As a light-hearted action-comedy-romance, it worked. It's full of charm and void of cynicism. If you needed something on in the background on TV, Romancing the Stone would fit the bill.
Personal
Having some experience in film-making, I can't imagine how miserable the shooting experience was. Logistically, we're talking about mountains, rain forests, rapids, mud, rain, all sorts of animals including crocodiles, guns, and vehicle stunts. Mad props to people with the patience to deal with that stuff for weeks.
Sixteen Candles
Viewed in
2011
Formats
HDTV
Premise
Molly Ringwald stars in the John Hughes classic about an American girl's 16th birthday gone horribly awry.
Loved
Cute charm, young John Cusack.
Thoughts
One word comes to mind: adorable.
I enjoyed the silly, 1980's sitcom-like sense of humor, all the characters were likable (especially Anthony Michael Hall as the geek), and it perfectly captured the high school experience of that time, including the insecurities and pressures.
Watching it now, there's the unintentional comedy of its homophobic and racist jokes. Considering these themes came from an ignorant time, I just giggled and thought "aw, how cute". As a UHF fan, it was amusing to see that Gedde Watanabe just specializes in annoying Asian roles.
Personally, I never knew one of my favorite actors, John Cusack, was in it. I actually squee'd at how young and cute he was. It helped that he was very funny and sold Hall's dorky sidekick effortlessly. I should've realized his sister, Joan, would be in it too.
It lacked the heart of The Breakfast Club, but Sixteen Candles held up easily because of its irresistible charm.
Random
The score included the Temple City Kazoo Orchestra. I couldn't find any research to indicate this came from my hometown.
Star Trek III: The Search for Spock
Viewed in
1999
Formats
VHS
Premise
Admiral Kirk and his bridge crew risk their careers stealing the decommissioned Enterprise to return to the restricted Genesis planet to recover Spock's body.
Thoughts
Details are fuzzy, but I recall enjoying it. I liked how it was a continuation from the previous film.
What I would change
No clue.
1999
Formats
VHS
Premise
Admiral Kirk and his bridge crew risk their careers stealing the decommissioned Enterprise to return to the restricted Genesis planet to recover Spock's body.
Thoughts
Details are fuzzy, but I recall enjoying it. I liked how it was a continuation from the previous film.
What I would change
No clue.
Terminator
Viewed in
2008, 2009, 2011
Formats
HDTV
Premise
A young lady (Linda Hamilton) is pursued by an unstoppable killer cyborg from the future (Arnold Schwarzenegger).
Loved
Melding of science fiction with exciting action. The Terminator mythology.
Thoughts
Each re-watch, along with its equally great sequel, gets better and better. The well-written time-travel tie-ins between this and Judgment Day simply enhanced each other.
Arnold was born to play the Terminator. Granted there was some hilarity in the fact that he only had five lines that hid his lack of English back then. But his robotic, hulking, menacing presence hardly made him feel like the antagonist. Hamilton was solid as the everyday girl caught in the madness (though her character was cooler in the context of both films). Michael Biehn was perfect as the scrappy underdog against disbelieving cops and T-101.
Director James Cameron found the perfect balance of interesting time-travel/cyborg themes with entertaining car cashes and shootouts. While the special effects have become obvious and the sequel's action sequences blew this one out of the water, there were still memorable moments, thanks to makeup, animatronics, stop-motion animation and old school stunt work. The "I'll be back" scene still makes me giddy.
While I loved Brad Fiedel's unforgettable, pounding theme song, I always thought the overall score wasn't epic enough for the scope of the film. But I've kind of warmed up to them a bit third time around. After all it's dated synthesizers actually give a timeless periodic sound now.
The Terminator is quintessential to Arnold and Cameron's career. It is definitely a must-see, especially in conjunction with Terminator 2: Judgment Day.
What I would change
Nothing, other than the score.
Random
An undiscovered Bill Paxton as a blue-haired punk.
2008, 2009, 2011
Formats
HDTV
Premise
A young lady (Linda Hamilton) is pursued by an unstoppable killer cyborg from the future (Arnold Schwarzenegger).
Loved
Melding of science fiction with exciting action. The Terminator mythology.
Thoughts
Each re-watch, along with its equally great sequel, gets better and better. The well-written time-travel tie-ins between this and Judgment Day simply enhanced each other.
Arnold was born to play the Terminator. Granted there was some hilarity in the fact that he only had five lines that hid his lack of English back then. But his robotic, hulking, menacing presence hardly made him feel like the antagonist. Hamilton was solid as the everyday girl caught in the madness (though her character was cooler in the context of both films). Michael Biehn was perfect as the scrappy underdog against disbelieving cops and T-101.
Director James Cameron found the perfect balance of interesting time-travel/cyborg themes with entertaining car cashes and shootouts. While the special effects have become obvious and the sequel's action sequences blew this one out of the water, there were still memorable moments, thanks to makeup, animatronics, stop-motion animation and old school stunt work. The "I'll be back" scene still makes me giddy.
While I loved Brad Fiedel's unforgettable, pounding theme song, I always thought the overall score wasn't epic enough for the scope of the film. But I've kind of warmed up to them a bit third time around. After all it's dated synthesizers actually give a timeless periodic sound now.
The Terminator is quintessential to Arnold and Cameron's career. It is definitely a must-see, especially in conjunction with Terminator 2: Judgment Day.
What I would change
Nothing, other than the score.
Random
An undiscovered Bill Paxton as a blue-haired punk.
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