Viewed in
2010
Formats
Netflix HD streaming via Xbox 360
Premise
Sigourney Weaver returns in the sequel as she joins a military squad to revisit the hostile planet. James Cameron takes over as director.
Loved
Weaver's kick-butt character.
Liked
The suspenseful intensity, the impressive special effects.
Disliked
How similar it was to Avatar.
Thoughts
A worthy sequel to a classic.
Weaver was one of the coolest aspects of the first two films. It was not just because of the rarity of a female lead in a sci-fi action flick, but because how much she kicked butt in that role; she was smart and tough as nails. I was just plain giddy when she went into all-out Ripley mode around the halfway mark. Like before, the cast was solid, including Michael Biehn, the perfectly cast Lance Henriksen as an android, and Carrie Henn as the lone survivor on the colony. Admittedly, I was surprised by Paul Reiser's dramatic chops, since I only knew him from Mad About You.
For the most part, this film still maintained the uneasy suspense and silent-but-deadly vibe from the classic. Like before, it started off with spooky atmosphere, and built up into a nerve-wracking crescendo, only more action-oriented. When it morphed into shoot-em-up, it was very well done. The majority of special effects still held up, especially the improved animatronics/puppets able to show more of the aliens as agile, fighting entities. Also, the robot suits were impressive.
The biggest flaw was that the plot was a bit flimsy, especially in terms of characters acting dumber than expected. After watching this, it did deflate Avatar a bit, because I realized that Cameron recycled numerous moments, characters, and technology from Aliens.
This belongs in the pantheon of sequels equal (or nearly equal) to the original, thanks to Ripley, fantastic visual effects, and continuing the uneasy/queasy feeling of the unknown. I still preferred the original, due to a more consistent suspenseful experience and story.
What I would change
Nothing.
Showing posts with label 1986. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 1986. Show all posts
Castle in the Sky
Viewed in
2003
Formats
DVD
Premise
A young boy and a mysterious girl search for a floating castle.
Thoughts
Unfortunately, I do not remember much about this film, other than it had a beautifully haunting score. I recall liking it, but I might be a biased Hayao Miyazaki fan.
What I would change
Don't remember.
2003
Formats
DVD
Premise
A young boy and a mysterious girl search for a floating castle.
Thoughts
Unfortunately, I do not remember much about this film, other than it had a beautifully haunting score. I recall liking it, but I might be a biased Hayao Miyazaki fan.
What I would change
Don't remember.
Ferris Bueller's Day Off
Viewed in
1998, 1999
Formats
DVD
Premise
Matthew Broderick plays a slick high schooler who is determined to skip school for a day.
Thoughts
It's been a long time, so the details are fuzzy, but I recall having a blast watching this masterpiece. What stood out best was the charming, funny performances by the entire cast, from adorable Broderick, to jealous Jennifer Grey, to frustrated Jeffery Jones, to monotonous Ben Stein. Charlie Sheen's cameo was ridiculously awesome. I also enjoyed the music and comedy. Even with the unrealistic plot, this was still a quintessential 1980's (and John Hughes) flick.
What I would change
Nothing.
1998, 1999
Formats
DVD
Premise
Matthew Broderick plays a slick high schooler who is determined to skip school for a day.
Thoughts
It's been a long time, so the details are fuzzy, but I recall having a blast watching this masterpiece. What stood out best was the charming, funny performances by the entire cast, from adorable Broderick, to jealous Jennifer Grey, to frustrated Jeffery Jones, to monotonous Ben Stein. Charlie Sheen's cameo was ridiculously awesome. I also enjoyed the music and comedy. Even with the unrealistic plot, this was still a quintessential 1980's (and John Hughes) flick.
What I would change
Nothing.
Fly, The
Viewed in
2010
Formats
HD TV
Premise
Jeff Goldblum stars in the David Cronenberg remake, as a scientist who accidentally genetically splices his body with a fly.
Liked
Visual effects, overall scariness.
Thoughts
Gross and spooky.
A lot of this was due to the excellent special effects and makeup. Watching Goldblum's character mutate and molt, body part by body part, was quite convincing, and made me glad I was not eating anything at the time. The camera trick of him climbing his wall was pretty neat. I am uncertain if it was puppets or animatronics, but they helped create some really fantastically grotesque creatures. Cronenberg's visual accomplishments in pre-CGI days was certainly laudable.
As for Goldblum, what can I say, except that it was a role he was born to play. I loved how his eyes zigzagged all the time at the beginning. In terms of writing, it was above average. I liked how it took its time on the character's transformation, so the horror was not the creature itself, but the uncertainty of what Goldblum's character was becoming. Also, the story and consequences were quite thoughtful.
Having said that, the story-telling was far from perfect. The biggest flaw was that the characters were actually quite dumb, and mainly did illogical things to serve the plot. And as much as I loved Goldblum here, they could have done more to have him behave more like a fly during his transformation.
This was an effective horror film, especially in its ability to create memorable moments of graphic violence and Goldblum's performance.
What I would change
Not sure.
Personal
I mistakenly thought this was the version with the famous "help me!" line. Oh well, my bad for not doing my research.
2010
Formats
HD TV
Premise
Jeff Goldblum stars in the David Cronenberg remake, as a scientist who accidentally genetically splices his body with a fly.
Liked
Visual effects, overall scariness.
Thoughts
Gross and spooky.
A lot of this was due to the excellent special effects and makeup. Watching Goldblum's character mutate and molt, body part by body part, was quite convincing, and made me glad I was not eating anything at the time. The camera trick of him climbing his wall was pretty neat. I am uncertain if it was puppets or animatronics, but they helped create some really fantastically grotesque creatures. Cronenberg's visual accomplishments in pre-CGI days was certainly laudable.
As for Goldblum, what can I say, except that it was a role he was born to play. I loved how his eyes zigzagged all the time at the beginning. In terms of writing, it was above average. I liked how it took its time on the character's transformation, so the horror was not the creature itself, but the uncertainty of what Goldblum's character was becoming. Also, the story and consequences were quite thoughtful.
Having said that, the story-telling was far from perfect. The biggest flaw was that the characters were actually quite dumb, and mainly did illogical things to serve the plot. And as much as I loved Goldblum here, they could have done more to have him behave more like a fly during his transformation.
This was an effective horror film, especially in its ability to create memorable moments of graphic violence and Goldblum's performance.
What I would change
Not sure.
Personal
I mistakenly thought this was the version with the famous "help me!" line. Oh well, my bad for not doing my research.
Highlander
Viewed in
1996, 2000
Formats
VHS, DVD
Premise
Christopher Lambert stars as an immortal Scottish swordsman who must fight The Kurgan.
Loved
Queen's theme song.
Thoughts
I just remember liking it because I was a pretty big fan, and this was the beginning of the franchise. The idea about immortal humans running around throughout history gaining power by beheading other immortals was macho fun. Other than the way-too-broody Lambert, the cast included Clancy Brown and the great Sean Connery. And there was an awesome theme song by Queen. Everything else about it probably sucked.
What I would change
No idea.
1996, 2000
Formats
VHS, DVD
Premise
Christopher Lambert stars as an immortal Scottish swordsman who must fight The Kurgan.
Loved
Queen's theme song.
Thoughts
I just remember liking it because I was a pretty big fan, and this was the beginning of the franchise. The idea about immortal humans running around throughout history gaining power by beheading other immortals was macho fun. Other than the way-too-broody Lambert, the cast included Clancy Brown and the great Sean Connery. And there was an awesome theme song by Queen. Everything else about it probably sucked.
What I would change
No idea.
Hoosiers
Viewed in
2007
Premise
Gene Hackman saves a high school basketball team.
Who should watch
Fans of Gene Hackman or Dennis Hopper. Basketball fans.
Thoughts
I did not see what was so great about it. I loved the Gene Hackman and Dennis Hopper scenes, but that was more about their screen presence than the story. The early scenes about the town's zealous attitude was well done.
However, when it came to the basketball, it felt generic and unexciting. Perhaps I have seen too many parodies and copycats to understand the emotional aspect of the story.
What I would change
Fleshed out the players better.
2007
Premise
Gene Hackman saves a high school basketball team.
Who should watch
Fans of Gene Hackman or Dennis Hopper. Basketball fans.
Thoughts
I did not see what was so great about it. I loved the Gene Hackman and Dennis Hopper scenes, but that was more about their screen presence than the story. The early scenes about the town's zealous attitude was well done.
However, when it came to the basketball, it felt generic and unexciting. Perhaps I have seen too many parodies and copycats to understand the emotional aspect of the story.
What I would change
Fleshed out the players better.
Platoon
Viewed in
2006
Premise
A young soldier goes to Vietnam during the war for the first time.
Who should watch
Oliver Stone fans. Anyone who wants to explore the topics of war.
Thoughts
A well-done and sobering film. The themes and unglorious portrayal of war will make you contemplate various aspects of war, especially the poor fighting the rich man's war.
In a way, it felt like a realistic, linear version of 'Apocalypse Now'.
What I would change
Nothing.
2006
Premise
A young soldier goes to Vietnam during the war for the first time.
Who should watch
Oliver Stone fans. Anyone who wants to explore the topics of war.
Thoughts
A well-done and sobering film. The themes and unglorious portrayal of war will make you contemplate various aspects of war, especially the poor fighting the rich man's war.
In a way, it felt like a realistic, linear version of 'Apocalypse Now'.
What I would change
Nothing.
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home
Viewed in
1999
Formats
VHS
Premise
To save Earth from an alien probe, Kirk and his crew go back in time to retrieve the only beings who can communicate with it, humpback whales.
Thoughts
Details are fuzzy, but I recall liking the time-travel story and that it was surprisingly comedic and light-hearted.
What I would change
No clue.
1999
Formats
VHS
Premise
To save Earth from an alien probe, Kirk and his crew go back in time to retrieve the only beings who can communicate with it, humpback whales.
Thoughts
Details are fuzzy, but I recall liking the time-travel story and that it was surprisingly comedic and light-hearted.
What I would change
No clue.
Top Gun
Viewed in
1998
Formats
VHS
Premise
Tom Cruise stars in a movie about fighter pilot school.
Thoughts
Details are hazy, but this was a quintessential 80's flick. It has now transformed into an unintentional comedy, but it was still full of memorable character, moments, music and dialog.
What I would change
Nothing.
1998
Formats
VHS
Premise
Tom Cruise stars in a movie about fighter pilot school.
Thoughts
Details are hazy, but this was a quintessential 80's flick. It has now transformed into an unintentional comedy, but it was still full of memorable character, moments, music and dialog.
What I would change
Nothing.
Transformers
Viewed in
1986, 2000, 2006, 2007
Premise
The transition movie between seasons 2 and 3 of the animated series.
Who should watch
Transformers fans.
Thoughts
A timeless classic in terms of 1980's nostalgia and the unintentionally funny scale. Everything from the animation style, the story, the cassette tape players and the hair band music screams 1980's. As a fan of the cartoon, I am fond of it as well as amused.
One aspect that was always forgotten was the most eclectic and mind-blowing voice cast. This was the only place where you could put Orsen Welles, Leonard Nimoy, Casey Kasem and the guy from Micro Machines in the same sentence.
Two classic scenes made this a must-see: Optimus Prime's traumatizing death and a cartoon character shouting 'Oh shit!'. Optimus's death this was as heart-breaking as Bambi's mom's death. I also enjoyed every Grimlock scene. Especially the part when he screams 'Grimlock kick butt!' and promptly kicks a robot's posterior.
What I would change
Nothing. Other than not killing off Optimus Prime.
1986, 2000, 2006, 2007
Premise
The transition movie between seasons 2 and 3 of the animated series.
Who should watch
Transformers fans.
Thoughts
A timeless classic in terms of 1980's nostalgia and the unintentionally funny scale. Everything from the animation style, the story, the cassette tape players and the hair band music screams 1980's. As a fan of the cartoon, I am fond of it as well as amused.
One aspect that was always forgotten was the most eclectic and mind-blowing voice cast. This was the only place where you could put Orsen Welles, Leonard Nimoy, Casey Kasem and the guy from Micro Machines in the same sentence.
Two classic scenes made this a must-see: Optimus Prime's traumatizing death and a cartoon character shouting 'Oh shit!'. Optimus's death this was as heart-breaking as Bambi's mom's death. I also enjoyed every Grimlock scene. Especially the part when he screams 'Grimlock kick butt!' and promptly kicks a robot's posterior.
What I would change
Nothing. Other than not killing off Optimus Prime.
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